Determination of hardness and Young's modulus of brush plated nano-Al2O3/Ni composite coating by nanoindentation testing

Nanoindentation was used to produce maps of the hardness aid elastic modulus through cross-sections of a brush plated nanoparticle composite n-Al2O3/Ni coating on Mild carbon steel. The Young's modulus of the brush plated n-Al2O3/Ni composite coating was similar to200 GPa. The coating exhibited uniform mechanical properties throughout its thickness, with the exception of a few regions with low hardness and modulus due to pores and microcracks. It is essential to control the selective plating process to reduce the defect content and ensure uniform properties of the nanoparticle composite coatings.