Anti-Wear and Hardness Values of Functional Value-Added Zn-ZnO-Rice Husk Ash Composite Coating of Mild Steel

Anti-Wear and Hardness Values of Functional Value-Added Zn-ZnO-Rice Husk Ash Composite Coating of Mild Steel

Daniel-Mkpume Cynthia Chikodi Obikwelu Daniel Oray Nnamdi Aigbodion Victor Sunday*

Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria

Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 534, South Africa

Africa Centre of Excellence, ACESPED University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria

Corresponding Author Email: 
victor.aigbodion@unn.edu.ng
Page: 
27-32
|
DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.18280/rcma.310104
Received: 
20 August 2020
|
Revised: 
20 January 2021
|
Accepted: 
28 January 2021
|
Available online: 
28 February 2021
| Citation

© 2021 IIETA. This article is published by IIETA and is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract: 

This paper presents the anti-wear and hardness values of electrodeposited Zn-ZnO- XRHA composite coating. Chloride-based bath was employed for the deposition bath. The deposition parameters were 0g, 10g and 20g rice husk ash (RHA) particulate loading, 15 minutes deposition, 1.4A current, 400 rpm stirring rate and 75℃ bath temperature. The composition, morphology, occurred phases, hardness and wear resistance for the RHA, mild steel substrate and developed coatings were studied. Equipment used for analyzing the coatings properties were x-ray fluorescence spectrometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM) with attached energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), EMCO Test Dura-scan microhardness tester and CERT UMT-2 tribological tester. Results showed that the Zn-ZnO-20RHA coated substrate had the highest hardness result toping the bare substrate by about 170% increment value. The trend of the wear loss for the developed Zn-ZnO-XRHA descended relative to increased particulate loading.

Keywords: 

anti-wear, hardness, morphology, composite coating, electrodeposition

1. Introduction

Expressly, it is highly motivating in the globe of research to ascertain a leeway for surface enhancement of mild steel (MS) for improved surface characteristics employing a downtrodden material such as rice husk (RH) [1]. This indeed is a real time value addition, as it regenerates waste into a resourceful engineered material – a novelty indeed. Mild steel being an ingenious structural engineering piece, remains vastly indomitable [2]. This feasibility stems from the mechanical potentials of steel coupled with its low cost and availability [3]. Particulates incorporation into coatings produced on various substrate materials via diverse techniques comprising chemical vapour deposition [4], electrodeposition [3], hot dipping [5], plasma spray, physical vapour deposition [6], spray pyrolysis [7-9] and thermal spraying [10] have proven credibility on diverse properties enhancement. In comparison with all these techniques, electrodeposition is devoid of sophistication, consumes minimal energy, enables coating of intricate parts and remains cost effective. Also, the efficiency of thin film production is optimally achieved in this case [11]. It is evident from researches that ceramic particles of aluminium silicate (Al2SiO4) [12], alumina (Al2O3) [13], silica (SiO2) [14], silicon carbide (SiC) [15], titania (TiO2) [13], yttria (Y2O3) [16], zirconia (ZrO2) [17], graphene oxide (GO) [18], fullerene (C60) [19] and niobium oxide Nb2O [20] have served as additives in zinc-based electrodeposited coatings. These incorporations have significantly made-up for the shortcomings of zinc. Consequently, development of new surface engineering materials with commendable microhardness, wear resistance and thermal properties has been achieved [14]. Hence, this work anchors on finding the effect of RHA on the microhardness, wear resistance and thermal properties of Zn-ZnO-RHA coated mild steel for defence application obviously not reported prior to this work.

2. Materials and Method

2.1 RHA preparation

RH sample collected from a rice mill was washed in 0.1% NaOH and thoroughly rinsed in a trough of distilled water. The washed sample was sun-dried at ambient temperature range of 27–29℃. Subsequently, incineration of the sample in the open air was done. Incinerated sample was then put into the Carbolite furnace at 1200℃ for 10 hours and furnace-cooled for ash formation. The resulting ash sample was pulverized in a ball mill for 6 hours to ensure particulate homogeneity [21].

2.2 Substrate preparation

The steel substrate which was the cathode material was sectioned to the dimension 50 *40 * 20 mm with its elemental composition presented in Table 1. The anode material was pure zinc sheet with 99.99% purity. The mild steel substrate was prepared by mechanically grinding the surface using emery paper in a succession of fineness, P60, P80, P150, P220, P350, P600, P800, P1000 and P1200 grits. Subsequently, the substrate was degreased in acetone, thoroughly rinsed in distilled water and dried with a hand dryer [21].

2.3 Bath preparation

The bath composed of distilled water and annular grade chemicals comprising zinc chloride 100 g/L, zinc oxide 15 g/L, boric acid 10 g/L, potassium oxide 40 g/L, sodium chloride 5 g/L, thiourea 10 g/L and glycine 10 g/L prepared at room temperature 24 hours prior deposition. The blend of chemicals was heated at 75℃ at a constant stirring rate of 400 rpm for 30 minutes to establish the bath temperature and homogeneity per deposition with RHA additive incorporated prior to deposition proper [21].

2.4 Deposition setup

The deposition was done using the setup shown in Fig 1 and the produced coated substrate shown. The choice of the varied deposition parameter stems from the literature [16, 22]. Mild steel (MS) substrate as cathode material and the zinc as the anode material were duly connected to the rectifier and immersed into the deposition bath setting the stirring rate to 400 rpm, temperature to 75℃ and time to 15 mins. When the bath temperature was attained the deposition was initiated by switching on the rectifier. At the termination of the deposition process the samples produced shown in Figure 1 were rinsed in a trough with distilled water and dried for ten minutes using a hand dryer [21].

Figure 1. The deposition setup and coated sample [21]

2.5 Characterization and testing of RHA and coating

The phases and constituents of the prepared RHA were determined via XRD and XRF respectively. The results are shown in Figure 2 and Table 2 respectively. Figure 3 show the XRD results of the developed coatings. VEGA3 TESCAN, scanning electron microscope with operational EDS was employed for the characterization of the RHA and the developed coatings and the micrographs are shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5 [21]. The mechanical tests considered in this research were microhardness as well as wear resistance. The microhardness test was aided by a diamond pyramid indenter EMCO Test Dura-scan microhardness tester at 10 g load for 20 s span across the coating. The experiment was run in triplicate per sample. The average results are revealed in Figure 6 [21].

The CERT UMT-2 tribological tester was used for the wear test at an ambient temperature of 25℃. The slip test was performed on a sample sized 2 cm by 1.5 cm, with a load of 15 N, constant speed of 5 mm / s and displacement range of 3 mm in 3 minutes. The meter body used for the inspection of the wear behaviour of the developed coating was a steel ball [21]. The wear loss result and that of the friction coefficient are shown in Figure 7. The optical microscopy assessment of the wear tracks is shown in Figure 8.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrophotometry assessment

In Table 1, the composition of the MS substrate material via AAS technique confirms it to be mild steel owing to the carbon content of 0.15 (wt%). The entire constituents compare with mild steel for pipeline application [2]. The compositional constituents of RHA via XRF are presented in Table 2. 98.23 wt% silica in the analysis shows the prominence of silica as the major constituent coexisting with other minor constituents and stands efficacious in exhibiting its known properties as a coating material.

Table 1. Composition of the substrate material via AAS

Elements

Composition (wt%)

Carbon

0.150

Manganese

0.590

Phosphorus

0.029

Sulphur

0.032

Silicon

0.230

Iron

98.969

In Table 2, the compositional constituents of RHA via XRF are presented. This shows the prominence of Silica (98.23 wt%) as the major constituent coexisting with other minor constituents.

Table 2. Composition of the RHA via XRF

Elements

Composition (wt%)

Al2O3

Carbon

0.21

C60

0.28

CaO

0.36

Fe2O3

0.18

K2O

0.34

Mn3O4

0.03

MgO

0.14

P2O5

0.07

SO3

0.1

TiO2

0.002

Y2O3

0.003

ZnO

0.01

SiO2

98.23

3.2 X-ray diffractometry (XRD) assessment

The XRD assessment of the RHA particulate shown in Figure 2, Table 3 and Table 4 epitomize peaks of Al2SiO5 (Aluminum Silicate), SiO2 (Silicon Oxide and Quartz), and C60 (Carbon). The XRD spectrum of the RHA showed silicon oxide as the major amorphous phase of silica.

Figure 2. XRD assessment of the RHA particulate

Figure 3 presents the XRD assessment of the substrate and the developed Zn-ZnO-0RHA, Zn-ZnO-10RHA, and Zn-ZnO-20RHA coatings. The XRD of the substrate material proves it to be steel with the presence of Fe and Fe3C diffraction peaks. The features of the pattern of the XRD of Zn-ZnO-XRHA complex coating are quite similar. With increase in the particulate addition of RHA, the appearance of more phases and diffraction peaks occurred. The emerged prominent phases on the coating material are shown in Table 5 and Table 6. Outstanding were the Zinc (Zn), Silicon Oxide (SiO2), Aluminum Oxide Carbide (Al2OC), Zinc Aluminum Silicate (Zn2Al4Si5O18) and Zinc Carbide (ZnC8) which belong to the Hexagonal Crystal System (CS). Also, there exist phases of Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) and Zinc Silicate (Zn2SiO4) belonging to the Monoclinic and Orthorhombic Crystal systems respectively. The developed phases synchronized with other mono-constituents researches where one component was incorporated into the zinc to produce dependable coating [7-10]. From the developed the multi-phase RHA incorporated into the coating places it on the research pinnacle.

Table 3. XRD results of matched peaks for RHA

Pos. [°2Th.]

Height [cts]

d-spacing [Å]

Rel. Int. [%]

Matched by

12.4276

5308.64

7.12258

100.00

34-1382

20.9252

1931.90

4.24539

36.39

83-2466; 20-0258

24.9460

2934.45

3.56949

55.28

80-2147

26.6940

5153.47

3.33959

97.08

88-0893; 83-2466

35.0375

307.99

2.56110

5.80

77-2135; 20-0258; 80-2147

38.4923

541.57

2.33882

10.20

88-0893

50.1980

436.42

1.81746

8.22

88-0893; 83-2466

55.2217

204.57

1.66342

3.85

88-0893; 83-2466

59.9611

372.52

1.54150

7.02

88-0893; 77-2135; 80-2147

Table 4. XRD results indicating the salient phases for RHA

Visible

Ref. Code

Score

Compound Name

Chemical Formula

*

88-0893

15

Sillimanite

Al2SiO5

*

83-2466

34

Quartz, syn

SiO2

*

76-0931

21

Silicon Oxide

SiO2

*

77-2135

17

Corundum

Al2O3

*

20-0258

20

Carbon

C

*

80-2147

16

Silicon Oxide

SiO2

*

34-1382

16

Silicon Oxide

SiO2

Table 5. XRD results of matched peaks for coated substrates

Pos. [°2Th.]

Height [cts]

d-spacing [Å]

Rel. Int. [%]

Matched by

22.0025

383.56

4.03990

4.07

81-0067; 50-1496

28.1962

1745.27

3.16499

18.54

81-0067; 51-0627; 50-1496; 32-1456

32.8433

2127.74

2.72702

22.61

36-0148; 24-1469

36.2543

5961.33

2.47789

63.33

87-0713; 24-1469; 51-0627

38.9959

1929.23

2.30976

20.50

87-0713; 81-0067; 51-0627

43.2120

9412.61

2.09367

100.00

87-0713; 81-0067; 24-1469; 51-0627

44.6585

2341.57

2.02917

24.88

24-1469

54.3164

1440.56

1.68899

15.30

87-0713; 32-1456

58.2878

1027.69

1.58302

10.92

81-0067; 36-0148; 24-1469; 50-1496

70.0825

1600.49

1.34160

17.00

87-0713; 36-0148

Table 6. XRD results indicating the salient phases in the coatings

Ref. Code

Compound Name

Chemical Formula

Crystal system

87-0713

Zinc

Zn

Hexagonal

81-0067

Silicon Oxide

SiO2

Hexagonal

36-0148

Aluminum Oxide Carbide

Al2OC

Hexagonal

24-1469

Zinc Silicate

Zn2SiO4

Orthorhombic

51-0627

Zinc Carbide

ZnC8

Hexagonal

50-1496

Aluminum Oxide

Al2O3

Monoclinic

32-1456

Zinc Aluminum Silicate

Zn2Al4Si5O18

Hexagonal

Figure 3. Comparative XRD assessment of the substrate material, Zn-ZnO-0RHA, Zn-ZnO10RHA, and Zn-ZnO-20RHA coatings

3.3 Morphological study

The morphology in Figure 4, presents a dominantly projected silica structure as established by EDS and XRD as prominent. The EDS also shows the presence of Oxygen (O), Silicon (Si), Carbon (C), Phosphorus(P), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K) with Si as the main constituent.

Figure 4. Morphological assessment of the RHA additive

Figure 5 (a) – (d) show the surface morphology of the uncoated steel substrate, Zn-ZnO-0RHA, Zn-ZnO-10RHA, and Zn-ZnO-20RHA developed coating on MS substrate with attached EDS. Uniform layer dispersion was achieved in the Zn-ZnO-XRHA coated substrate which serves as an indication of homogeneous crystallite distribution of the coating on the substrate. In the Zn-ZnO-XRHA system, it is notable that agglomeration promotes both the effect of particulate deposition and subsequently, sedimentation. Stability is actually obvious with an interlock of the matrix at the interface of Zn-ZnO-RHA compared to coatings made with 0RHA. The morphological change may be dependent on the change from the preferred orientation of the hard phase RHA composite to a randomly oriented composite deposit [23]. This undeniably promotes enhanced properties.

3.4 Micro-hardness assessment

Figure 6 shows the micro-hardness (HVN) result for the developed coatings on the MS substrate. Epitomized in Figure 6, is increased hardness from 61.7 HVN to 166.63 HVN measured laterally on the substrate coated surface. Ample improvement in the microhardness result of developed coatings was observed. The most evident is on the Zn-ZnO-20RHA developed coating. This may be ascribed to the establishment of adherence intermetallic phase as well as the conditioning effect posed by RHA ceramics incorporated into the Zn-ZnO binary system. Though the improved microhardness property has been credited to ceramics incorporated composite in the coating, it is notable that the strengthening performance relative to the enhanced micro-hardness is a function of microstructure inclined to RHA particulate loading [24]. This dispersion of the RHA in the Zn-ZnO binary system clearly impedes the ease of dislocation movement leading to the higher hardness result of developed Zn-ZnO-xRHA composite coating samples. From the developed coatings, the multi-phase RHA incorporated into the coating places it on the research pinnacle.

Qualitatively, the average microhardness values of the developed Zn-ZnO-0RHA composite coating were higher than that of the MS substrate. Hence, it could suggest that RHA portrays a vehement barrier which hampers deformation of the coating matrix and enables improved hardness with increased particulate loading [25]. The Zn-ZnO-20RHA coated substrate had the highest hardness result toppling the bare substrate by about 170% increment value. Hence, makes this coating quite commendable. At this juncture, it could be adjudged that the evolution of adhesive characteristics, multiple hard phase formation and grain refinement of the microstructure immensely contributed to the microhardness result.

Figure 5. Surface morphology of the (a) uncoated steel substrate, (b) Zn-ZnO-0RHA, (c) Zn-ZnO-10RHA and (d) Zn-ZnO-20RHA developed coating on mild steel substrate with EDS

Figure 6. Microhardness of the uncoated steel substrate, Zn-ZnO-0RHA, Zn-ZnO-10RHA and Zn-ZnO-20RHA coated substrates

3.5 Wear resistance assessment

Figure 7. (a) Wear loss and (b) Range of friction coefficient assessment of the uncoated MS substrate, Zn-ZnO-0RHA, Zn-ZnO-10RHA and Zn-ZnO-20RHA coated substrates

The trend of the wear loss for the developed Zn-ZnO-XRHA is a descending one relative to increased particulate loading. This is shown in Figure 7(a). It is obvious that the uncoated MS substrate had the highest wear loss value of 0.017 g/min. the introduction of coating drastically reduced the wear loss with the least wear loss of 0.0026667 g/mins attained by the Zn-ZnO-XRHA. This insight that the developed coatings have lubrication abilities in relation to the steel ball used for the wear test. This could be adjoined with the multifaceted phases in RHA. Vividly, the structural evolution of the coating strengthens adhesion potential. Thus, declining plastic deformation [26] due to the reduction in friction coefficient range as shown in Figure 7(b). The friction coefficient ranges were 0.1115 - 0.7068, 6.82E-04 - 0.2169, 9.94E-04 - 0.1808 and 0.0032 - 0.1419 for the substrate, Zn-ZnO-0RHA, Zn-ZnO-10RHA, and Zn-ZnO-20RHA respectively. Malatji et al. observed a decrease in friction coefficient with particulate incorporation which was attributed to retard of the dislocation movement. The wear tracks are shown in Figure 8 (a) – (d).

Figure 8. Wear track assessment of the uncoated MS substrate, Zn-ZnO-0RHA, Zn-ZnO-10RHA and Zn-ZnO-20RHA coated substrates

4. Conclusions

RHA has emerged as a complementary coating material additive for many researches on uni- and multi- phased additive incorporation. Hence, the following conclusions are drawn:

  1. Successful chloride-based electrodeposition of Zn-ZnO-RHA composite coating on mild steel substrate was achieved.

  2. Improved hardness was attained with successive incorporation of RHA particulate loading.

  3. The emergence of hard phases was in the uniformly dispersed Zn-ZnO-RHA composite coating was machinery for self-lubrication leading to improved wear resistance.

Acknowledgment

The support of the staff members of the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, SERC LABORATORY, Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa and the NEEDS financial support is highly appreciated.

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