Mechanical properties of Zn-Ni-SiO2 coating deposited under X-ray irradiation

Abstract

Using X-ray microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy Zn-Ni-SiO2 plating containing SiO2 nanoparticles were studied. It was found that X-ray irradiation of the electrolyte leads to the increased Ni concentration in Zn-Ni-SiO2(X) films and the grain size is also increasing (the grain size is twice that in the unirradiated case). A thickness of Zn-Ni-SiO2(X) plating is 20 μm and a thickness of the Zn-Ni-SiO2 plating is about 15 μm. The surface morphology was studied using AFM method. Increasing Ni concentration and Ni5Zn21 phase due to X-Ray irradiation of the electrolyte leading to the improved mechanical properties of the coating.