Effects of TiO2 sol on the microstructure and properties of Au-Co coatings.

Gold (Au) coatings are widely used for electrical contacts in devices, decoration and jewelry. However, the relatively low hardness and poor wear resistance of pure Au coatings lead to a short service life and limit their application. Ni is frequently used as an alloying element to enhance the hardness but it lowers the conductivity of Au coatings. In this research, Co was co-deposited as an alloying element with Au to improve its mechanical properties while maintaining conductivity. TiO₂ sol in different concentrations was added to the Au-Co plating bath to further enhance the coating strength. Systematic studies including surface morphology, hardness, wear resistance and electrical conductivity have been carried out. Key results from nanoindentation tests demonstrated that the hardness of Au-Co-TiO₂ composite coating was increased by 30% when compared to a pure Au-Co coating, while the electrical conductivity has been kept at the same level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]