Sedimentation of Ultradispersed Diamonds in the Citrate Copper-Plating Electrolyte

Abstract—The aggregation and sedimentation of ultradispersed diamonds (UDDs) in a citrate copper-plating electrolyte (CCPE) used to fabricate composite electrochemical coatings are investigated. The sedimentation and aggregation stability is investigated in order to select the UDD concentration in the CCPE. This is necessary to fabricate composite copper coatings with improved operational characteristics (increased hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance), as well as impart them new properties (antifriction and catalytic). The UDD content in the electrolyte varies in limits from 0.2 to 2.0 g/L. The size distribution of the UDD particles in the electrolyte immediately after the suspension preparation and after the 10-day holding is determined using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 laser diffraction analyzer. The aggregation and sedimentation stability of the UDD suspension in the CCPE is investigated by the gravimetric method with the continuous weighing of a quartz small cap immersed into this suspension. The quartz cap is associated with a Sartorius R200D analytical balance with the help of a quartz wire. The experimentally determined time dependence of the weight of settling UDD particles is Q = f(t). The relative size distribution of the particles is determined from this dependence. It is established that the sedimentation stability is substantially affected by the aggregation of the particles, the intensity of which increases with an increase in the UDD concentration. The results satisfying the requirements on the aggregation and sedimentation stability are found for the UDD suspension in the CCPE with a concentration of 1.0 g/L. In this case, the high content of the dispersed phase is combined with aggregation and sedimentation stability, which makes it possible to fabricate copper composite coatings with improved operational properties.