Effects of surfactants on the PTFE particle sizes in electroless plating Ni-P-PTFE coatings

SUMMARY

The size and distribution uniformity of PTFE particles incorporated into Ni-P matrix has a significant effect on the morphology and antifouling properties of the Ni-P-PTFE composite coatings. In this paper five types of surfactants were used to disperse PTFE particles in plating suspensions and the effects of the surfactants on the size and distribution of PTFE particles in Ni-P-PTFE coatings were investigated. The effects of the surfactants on the deposition rate and PTFE content in the electroless Ni-P-PTFE coatings were also investigated. An optimum surfactant was determined, leading to the uniform distribution of nano-PTFE particles throughout the Ni-P matrix, without using additional mechanical or ultrasonic agitation technique. The optimum ratio of the surfactant concentration to PTFE particle concentration in the plating solution and the corresponding optimum operating conditions for electroless plating Ni-P-PTFE coatings were obtained. The morphology of Ni-P-PTFE coatings was evaluated by SEM.

Keywords:

• Surfactants
• Ni-P-PTFE
• Electroless Plating
• Antifouling
• Surface Morphology

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Y. Liu

Yunli Liu received her B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree from the Shenyang Normal University, China and is a Ph.D. student at University of Dundee, UK supported by UK EPSRC. She works in the area of electroless plating technique on the various substrates, leading to more than 10 papers.

Q. Zhao

Qi Zhao is Lecturer of Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Dundee, UK. He received his B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degree from the Dalian University of Technology, China. He has worked extensively in the area of surface modification techniques and anti-fouling surface materials, and has published more than 50 papers. He is a member of EPSRC Peer Review College and a member of NYAS.