Automatic brush plating: An update on brush plating

An automatic brush plating system was developed to eliminate the disadvantages resulting from the operator in conventional brush plating. With this system, Ni/nano-Al2O3 composite coatings on 45 steel substrates were prepared from an electrolyte containing 20 g/l nano-Al2O3 particles. For comparison, Ni/nano-Al2O3 composite coatings were also prepared manually. Microstructure, surface morphology, microhardness, modulus and wear resistance of two Ni-matrix composite coatings were investigated comparatively. Our present study shows that coating prepared automatically is much more dense, smooth, and uniform than that prepared manually. The former exhibits better mechanical and antiwear properties than the latter. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.