Cu-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite coatings with high CNT content and uniformly distributed CNTs were successfully prepared via jet electrodeposition. Pristine CNTs, without any treatment like acid functionalization, were used. Anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used to increase the wettability of the CNTs and improve the content of incorporated CNTs. With an appropriate SDS concentration (300 mg/L) in the electrolyte, the incorporated CNT content is as high as 2.84 wt %, much higher than the values reported using conventional electrodeposition (0.42⁻1.05 wt %). The high-content CNTs were uniformly distributed in the composite coating. The surface morphology of this composite coating (2.84 wt % CNTs) was flat due to the uniform electric field in jet electrodeposition. In the wear test a with load of 1 N and sliding speed of 0.02 m/s, the wear rate of this composite coating was 1.3 × 10-2 mg/Nm, 85.4% lower than that of pure Cu. The enhanced wear performance of Cu-CNTs composite coatings can be attributed to high CNT content and flat surface morphology.
Keywords: Cu-CNTs composite coatings; jet electrodeposition; wear performance.