ELECTROPHORETIC DEPOSITION OF TIO۲-MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBE COMPOSITE COATINGS: MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY

A homogenous TiO۲ / multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCNTs) composite film were prepared by electrophoretic co-deposition from organic suspension on a stainless steel substrate.  In this study, MWCNTs was incorporated to the coating because of their long structure and their capability to be functionalized by different inorganic groups on the surface. FTIR spectroscopy showed the existence of carboxylic groups on the modified carbon nanotubes surface. The effect of applied electrical fields, deposition time and concentration of nanoparticulates on coatings morphology were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. It was found that combination of MWCNTs within TiO۲ matrix eliminating micro cracks presented on TiO۲ coating. Also, by increasing the deposition voltages, micro cracks were increased. SEM observation of the coatings revealed that TiO۲/multi-walled carbon nanotubes coatings produced from optimized electric field was uniform and had good adhesive to the substrate.

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Keywords: Carbon nanotubes , TiO۲ nanoparticles , Electrophoretic deposition , Nanocomposites , Coatings