Pulse Plating of Copper-ZrB2 Composite Coatings

Copper-zirconium diboride (ZrB2) composite coatings were fabricated using pulse plating technique to acquire a new type of EDM (electro-discharge machining) electrode material. The effects of pulse parameters, i.e., the average current density, the frequency and the duty cycle, on the incorporation of ZrB2 particles in the copper matrix were investigated. The amountof codeposited ZrB2 particles had a maximum at average current density of 3 A/dm2 and increased with decreasing duty cycle as well as current frequency of the pulse current used for deposition. The hardness of the coatings increased with increasing ZrB2 percentage, whereas the incorporation of ZrB2 particles had little effect on the resistivity of the composites.