Effect of Catalyst on the Formation of Silica Coating on Nickel Substrate by Sol -Gel Processing

In this research work silica coating was produced on nickel substrates by a sol-gel process. In order to increase the rate of hydrolysis and to reduce the rate of polymerization several acid catalysts including nitric acid-hydrochloric acid,acetic acid, hydrochloric acid and nitric acid were add to silica sol. Conversely, in order to control the rate of hydrolysis and to increase the rate of polymerization, basic catalyst of ammonia and ammonia hydroxyl were introduced in to the solution.Nickel specimens of known surface roughness were chemically cleaned and prepared by dipping in the sols. In order to produce a suitable silica coating the drying and firing cycles were optimized on these substrates. The structure and uniformity of the coatings produced were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Coatings composition was determined using glow discharge optical spectroscopy and EDAX microanalysis. Experimental result showed that hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, ammonia and acetic acid - ammonia are suitable catalytic agents for silica coating formation on nickel type substrate.