Optimization Of Nickel Deposition On Boron Carbide Particles Using Design Of Experiments

• Published in: Materials today : proceedings Vol. 18; pp. 4421 - 4430
• Main Authors: Vijay, S., Srinivasa Rao, Ch
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2019
• Subjects: Boron Carbide-Ni coating-Optimization-MMCs; Boron Carbide-Ni coating-Optimization-MMCs
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2019.07.411

Amount of nickel deposition on Boron Carbide particles used as reinforcements in Aluminium metal matrix composites plays a vital role on wettability and bonding properties. In this work an attempt is made to investigate the influence of different bathing conditions of nickel deposition using electroless process onto boron carbide particles with average particle size as 44 µm. Sensitization bath is controlled by SnCl2, Activation bath is controlled by PbCl2, Coating bath is controlled by NiSO4.6H2O and the pH value of the solution. Two levels for the four factors are considered for the study, using half fractional factorial design 24-1 with two replicate 8runs are conducted. Nickel deposition on the boron carbide particles is observed by SEM images of the powder samples and the weight percentage of the Nickel deposited is observed by EDS smart quant results. Experimental results were analysed to study the influencing factors on the process by Analysis of Variance using design expert software. From ANOVA it is observed that most influencing factors on the process are amount of NiSO4.6H2O, PdCl2 and interaction of SnCl2 and NiSO4.6H2O respectively. From the regression model confirmation test has conducted and verified for maximum nickel deposition on Boron Carbide particles.