TiB_2/Ni coatings on surface of copper alloy electrode prepared by electrospark deposition

In order to improve the lifespan of spot-welding electrodes used for welding zinc coated steel sheets, titanium diboride was deposited onto their surface after precoating nickel as an intermediate layer. The microstructures and phase compositions of TiB2 and Ni coatings were characterized by SEM and XRD. The coating hardness was measured using a microhardness tester. The results indicate that a satisfactory TiB2 coating is obtained as a result of the intermediate nickel layer acting as a good binder between the TiB2 coating and the copper alloy substrate. Owing to its capacity of deforming, the precoated nickel layer is dense and crack free, while cracks and pores are observed in the TiB2 coating. The hardness of the TiB2/Ni coating decreases with the increase of voltage and capacitance because of the diffusion of copper and nickel and the oxidation of the coating materials. Because of the good thermal and electrical conductivities and high hardness properties of TiB2, the deformation of the electrode with TiB2/Ni coating is reduced and its spot-welding life is by far prolonged than that of the uncoated one.

High temperature oxidation resistance and microstructure change of aluminized coating on copper substrate

The outermost coating with single phase Ni2Al3 was obtained on copper surface by electrodepositing nickel followed by slurry pack aluminizing at 800 °C for 12 h. The oxidation resistance and microstructure of the coating oxidized in ambient air at 1000 °C for 25-250 h were investigated using SEM, X-ray diffraction and optical microscope methods. The results show that the copper with single phase Ni2Al3 coating possesses the best high temperature oxidation resistance, and the mass gain of the coating is 1/15 that of pure copper and 1/2 that of nickel coating, respectively. The specimen surface after being oxidized for 25 h still comprises Ni2Al3 phase. However, when the time of oxidizing treatment increases to 50 h, the Ni Al phase is formed. It is also found that the Ni2Al3 phase completely turns into Ni Al phase after oxidizing treatment for 100 h and above. The Ni Al coating shows excellent high temperature oxidation resistance when oxidation time is 250 h.

MEMS Inductor Consisting of Suspended Thick Crystalline Silicon Spiral with Copper Surface Coating

A novel MEMS inductor consisting of a planar single crystalline silicon spiral with a copper surface coating as the conductor is presented. Using a silicon-glass anodic bonding and deep etching formation-and-release process,a 40μm-thick silicon spiral is formed, which is suspended on a glass substrate to eliminate substrate loss. The surfaces of the silicon spiral are coated with highly conformal copper by electroless plating to reduce the resis- tive loss in the conductor,with thin nickel film plated on the surface of the copper layer for final surface passivation. The fabricated inductor exhibits a self-resonance frequency higher than 15GHz,with a quality factor of about 40 and an inductance of over 5nil at 11.3GHz. Simulations based on a compact equivalent circuit model of the inductor and parameter extraction using a characteristic-function approach are carried out,and good agreement with measurements is obtained.

Preparation and characterization of molybdenum powders with copper coating by the electroless plating technique

Molybdenum powders with a diameter of approximately 3 μn were coated with copper using the electroless plating technique in the pH 12.5-13 and temperature range of 55-75℃. The optimization of the electroless copper bath was evaluated through the combination of process parameters like pH and temperature. The optimized values ofpH and temperature were found to be 12.5 and 60℃, respectively, which attributes to the bright maroon color of the coating with an increase in weight of 46%. The uncoated and coated powders were subjected to microstructural studies using scanning electron microscope （SEM） and the phases were analyzed using X-my diffrction （XRD）. An attempt was made to understand the growth mechanism of the coating. The diffusion-shrinkage autocatalytic model was suggested for copper growth on the molybdenum surface.

Microstructure and electrical conductivity of electroless copper plating layer on magnesium alloy micro-arc oxidation coating

In order to impart electrical conductivity to the magnesium alloy micro-arc oxidation(MAO)coating,the electroless copper plating was performed.Effects of plating temperature and complexing agent concentration on the properties of the electroless copper plating layers were studied by measuring their microstructure,corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity.It was found that the optimized plating temperature was 60°C,and the most suitable value of the complexing agent concentration was 30 g/L.Under this condition,a complete and dense plating layer could be obtained.The formation mechanism of the plating layer on magnesium alloy MAO coating was analyzed.A three-stage model of the plating process was proposed.The square resistance of the plated specimen was finally reduced to 0.03Ω/□after the third stage.Through electroless copper plating,the MAO coated sample obtained excellent electrical conductivity without significantly reducing its corrosion resistance.

Electrochemical behavior of different shelled microcapsule composite copper coatings

Copper/liquid microcapsule composite coatings with polyvinyl alcohol （PVA）, gelatin or methyl cellulose （MC） as shell materials were prepared by electrodeposition. The influence of shell materials on the corrosion resistance of the composite coatings in 0.1 M H2SO4 was investigated by means of electrochemical techniques, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, and energy dispersion spectrometry （EDS）. The results show that the participation of microcapsules can enhance the corrosion resistance of the composite coatings compared with the traditional copper layer. Based on the analysis of electrochemical test results, the release ways of microcapsules were deduced. Gelatin and MC as the shell materials of microcapsules are easy to release quickly in the composite coating. On the contrary, the releasing speed of PVA microcapsules is relatively slow due to their characteristics.

Hydrothermal synthesis of Zn-Mg-based layered double hydroxide coatings for the corrosion protection of copper in chloride and hydroxide media

Layered double hydroxides(LDHs)hinder corrosive elements by forming a double layer and locking them between its layers.Hence,LDHs are interesting materials in corrosion inhibition.In this work,Zn-Mg-based LDHs are grown over a copper substrate by using a hydrothermal method.Two types of Zn-Mg-based LDH coating are prepared based on hydrothermal reaction time.Both types are characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy,high-resolution scanning electron microscopy,energy dispersive X-ray analysis,atomic force microscopy,and X-ray diffraction.Results show that the two types of LDH coating are successfully grown on copper;however,they differ in thickness and structural configuration.Corrosion testing of the LDH coatings is executed in 0.1 M Na Cl and 0.1 M Na OH through alternating current impedance measurements and Tafel polarization curves.Results show that L48 gives more than 90%protection to copper,which is higher than the protection provided by L24.However,both LDH coatings(L24 and L48)are more effective corrosion inhibitors in Na Cl than in Na OH,suggesting that the LDH coatings can more efficiently exchange Cl ions than OH ions.

In situ carbon coating for enhanced chemical stability of copper nanowires

Copper nanowires(CuNWs)are promising electrode materials,especially for used in flexible and transparent electrodes,due to their advantages of earth-abundant,low-cost,high conductivity and flexibility.However,the poor stability of CuNWs against oxidation and chemic-al corrosion seriously hinders their practical applications.Herein,we propose a facile strategy to improve the chemical stability of CuNWs by in situ coating of carbon protective layer on top of them through hydrothermal carbonization method.The influential factors on the growth of carbon film including the concentration of the glucose precursor(carbon source),hydrothermal temperature,and hydrothermal time are sys-tematically studied.By tailoring these factors,carbon layers with thickness of 3-8 nm can be uniformly grown on CuNWs with appropriate glucose concentration around 80 mg·mL−1,hydrothermal temperature of 160-170°C,and hydrothermal time of 1-3 h.The as-prepared carbon-coated CuNWs show excellent resistance against corrosion and oxidation,and are of great potential to use broadly in various optoelectronic devices.

Hydrothermal growth of Ni-based coatings on copper substrates

Ni-based coatings were deposited on copper substrates by a hydrothermal approach. The results showed that a Ni-based cellular microstructure was bridged by ＂fiber-like＂ products. A high microhardness of Hv 856 was achieved after 400℃ heat treatment, which is nine times that of copper substrates （Hv 95）. Nucleation, growth, and fusion of Ni atoms along the linear direction, induced by a linear-type cit- rate-metal structural ＂molecule template＂, led to in-situ growth of Ni-based fibers between cellular microspheres. After 400℃ heat treatment, the precipitation of NiP and Ni3P hard phases contributed to the high microhardness of Ni-based coatings.

Electroless copper-phosphorus coatings with the addition of silicon carbide (SiC) particles

Cu-P-silicon carbide （SiC） composite coatings were deposited by means of electroless plating.The effects of pH values,temperature,and different concentrations of sodium hypophosphite （NaH2PO2·H2O）,nickel sulfate （NiSO4·6H2O）,sodium citrate （C6H5Na3O7·2H2O） and SiC on the deposition rate and coating compositions were evaluated,and the bath formulation for Cu-P-SiC composite coatings was optimised.The coating compositions were determined using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis （EDX）.The corresponding optimal operating parameters for depositing Cu-P-SiC are as follows：pH 9;temperature,90oC;NaH2PO2·H2O concentration,125 g/L;NiSO4·6H2O concentration,3.125 g/L;SiC concentration,5 g/L;and C6H5Na3O7·2H2O concentration,50 g/L.The surface morphology of the coatings analysed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） shows that Cu particles are uniformly distributed.The hardness and wear resistance of Cu-P composite coatings are improved with the addition of SiC particles and increase with the increase of SiC content.

Studies on copper coating on carbon fibers

The weak interface bonding of metal matrix reinforced by carbon fibers is the central problem of fabricating such composites. Depositing copper coating on carbon fibers is regarded as a feasible method to solve the problem. In this paper, copper coating has been deposited on the fibers through both electroless deposition and electroplating methods. Two kinds of complexing agents and two stabilizing agents are taken during the electroless plating process. The solution is stable, and little extraneous component is absorbed on the surface. After adding additive agents and increasing the concentration of H2SO4 to the acid cupric sulfate electrolyte, the "black core" during usual electroplating process is avoided. The quality of copper coating is analyzed using SEM and XRD, etc.

Preparation and thermal conductivity of tungsten coated diamond/copper composites

Tungsten was plated on the surface of diamond by using thermal diffusion method.Different process parameters were employed to prepare the composites with tungsten,diamond and copper.The micro morphology of different samples was observed,and the thermal conductivity of samples was measured by laser flash method.The optimal process parameters for preparing diamond/copper composites with high thermal conductivity were investigated.The results indicated that plating tungsten on diamond could modify the interface bonding.When the diamond was plated for 60 min,the coating appeared intact,uniform and flat,and the thermal conductivity of the sample could reach as high as 486 W/(m·K).The integrity and uniformity were more important than thickness for the coating.When the tungsten-plated diamond was further annealed,the metallurgical bonding between the coating and the diamond was enhanced,and the thermal conductivity rose to 559 W/(m·K).

Effect of aluminum borate whisker coating on interface and mechanical properties of 6061Al matrix composites

Copper coating was deposited on the surface of aluminum borate whisker by an electroless plating method.This method was used to modify the interfacial property of squeeze-casting aluminum borate whisker reinforced 6061Al matrix composite.Interface observation indicates that the spinel reaction(MgAl2O4) is hindered by the copper coating,and the difference in interfacial reaction degree affects the tensile property and aging behavior of the composite.For the composite with less spinel reaction(MgAl2O4),its peak-aging process are postponed due to less depletion of magnesium.On the fracture surface of copper-coated composite dimples and fractures of whiskers are more,but on the fracture surface of uncoated composite pull-out of whiskers are more than that on the coated one.In uncoated composite the fracture generally originates from the near-interface-region.

Thermal Spray Coating of Tungsten for Tokamak Device

Thermal spray, such as direct current （d.c.） plasma spray or radio frequency induced plasma spray, was used to deposit tungsten coatings on the copper electrodes of a tokamak device. The tungsten coating on the outer surface of one copper electrode was formed directly through d.c. plasma spraying of fine tungsten powder. The tungsten coating/lining on the inner surface of another copper electrode could be formed indirectly through induced plasma spraying of coarse tungsten powder. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） was used to examine the cross section and the interface of the tungsten coating. Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-ray （EDAX） was used to analyze the metallic elements attached to a separated interface. The influence of the particle size of the tungsten powder on the density, cracking behavior and adhesion of the coating is discussed. It is found that the coarse tungsten powder with the particle size of 45-75μm can be melted and the coating can be formed only by using induced plasma. The coating deposited from the coarse powder has much higher cohesive strength, adhesive strength and crack resistance than the coating made from the fine powder with a particle size of 5μm.

Influence of oxidant KMnO_4 on film-forming process of rare earth metal conversion coating on LY12 aluminum alloy

A Cu/Al galvanic couple was established to study the influence of the oxidantKMnO_4 on the film-forming process of rare earth metal (REM) conversion coating on LY12 aluminumalloy. It is found that the galvanic couple simulative experiment accords with the actual immersion,and it can be substantially used to simulate the behavior of LY12 aluminum alloy in thefilm-forming process. It is showed that the formation of the coating is quickened in CeCl_3 solutioncontaining KMnO_4 compared with that not containing KMnO_4. XPS results reveal that the coatingformed on cathode is composed of oxide or hydroxide of Ce and Mn, so the mechanism of formation ofREM conversion coating changes when KMnO4 is added.

Manufacturing process and microstructure of copper-coated aluminum wires

Copper-coated aluminum wires exhibit good electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, low contact resistance of copper and low density, and provide economic advantages over aluminum. However, there are some problems in the manufacring processes of hot-dip copper-coated aluminum wires, such as the difficulties in controlling coating process. In this work, the hot-dip copper-coating method of aluminum wires was investigated for producing copper-coated aluminum wire composites. The interface microstructure between the aluminum wire and the copper coating layer was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and energy-dispersive X-ray spec- trometry （EDS）. Five different fluxing agents were tested. Experimental results show that appropriate conditions for the hot-dip process are determined as the liquid copper temperature of 1085℃ and the treatment time less than 1 s. A success in hot-dip copper-coated aluminum wires is achieved by hot-dipping a low-melting-point metal into a high-melting-point metal liquid, which is significant for the further devel- opment and application of copper-coated aluminum wire composites.

Preparation, Characterization, and Application of Manganese Oxide Coated Zeolite as Adsorbent for Removal of Copper(II) Ions from Seawater

The present study is aimed to examine the adsorption characteristics of Cu(II) by using the novel cellulose acetate composite and to apply it for the removal of Cu(II) from real wastewater samples. In order to achieve this objective, ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine and te-traethylenepentanene were used for immobilization of grafted cellulose acetate-nanoscale manganese dioxide. Cellulose was extracted from mangrove species Avicennia marina and converted to cellulose acetate then it was formed composite with nano-manganese dioxide via precipitation of nano-manganese dioxide on it. The composite was grafted with acrylamide monomer before immobilization. The synthesized compounds were used for adsorption of Cu(II) and characterized by FT-IR, TGA and SEM. The adsorption characteristics of synthesized sorbents were optimized. Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to establish sorption equilibria. The analytical applications of these modified materials were applied successfully for the removal of Cu(II).

Efficiency of Aluminium and Copper Coated Aluminium Electrode in Hydrogen Fuel Generation from Rain Water

Water electrolysis is considered as the most capable and old technology for hydrogen fuel preparation. Electrolysis needs external electrical energy through electrodes to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. An efficient electrolysis requires suitable electrodes to minimize potential drop. In this study Aluminium and Copper Coated Aluminium were used as different combination of Anodes and Cathodes to find out more efficient electrodes combination. NaCl solution in rain water was taken as electrolyte. Rain water was taken to avoid ionic impedance of tap water and expenses of distilled water. In this study, the most efficient electrode combination was Copper Coated Aluminium (anode)-Aluminium (cathode) and gave the highest efficiency of hydrogen production to about 11% at normal temperature for very low concentration of NaCl (0.051 M) which increased with temperature, up to 29% upon rising of temp to 60°C. It was showed that higher concentration of electrolyte would surge the efficiency significantly. If the supplied heat could be provided from any waste heat sources then this study would be more efficient. However, current research evaluated the technical feasibility of this electrode combination for producing hydrogen with electrolysis of rain water utilizing electricity and modified electrodes.

Modified Coated Copper Wire as a New Fiber for SPME-GC Analysis of Some Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

In this study for the first time, a novel copper Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) fiber has been introduced for removal of naphthalene, phenanthrene and anthracene from aqueous solution. Copper was used as a solid support, which was at first coated by 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysi- lane. A stationary phase of oxidized multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs)) was bonded to the surface of the copper wire. The developed SPME was characterized by IR and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and coupled to gas chromatography for separation of the analytes. Stability of the fiber, the effect of coating thickness and recovery time were optimized. The MWCNTs film thickness was about 5 μm which was perfect for a rapid mass transfer. The detection limits were at the range of 0.005 to 0.1 μg·L-1. The calibration curves were linear R2 > 0.9813 in the range of 0.01 to 5 μg·L-1. The method has been successfully applied for real samples with standard addition of 5 μL-1 of each sample. Stability study of the fiber to acid and alkali shows that it can be used for more than 50 times.