Development of a high-precision, wear-resistant micro-holes structure

Nickel ions and fine diamond powder are utilized as metal-matrix composites to improve wear-resistance in the development of micro-hole structures. The reinforced microstructure is produced on a specular substrate through a precision extrusion wax and electrochemical co-deposition technique. Oily wax is employed as sacrificial material to draw and grow a feature shape. Co-deposition, in which nickel sulphamate solution and diamond powder are regularly mixed, is conducted for electroforming a layer of metal-matrix composites onto the substrate. The formed micro-holes structure displays excellent geometric and dimensional accuracy of the holes. Satisfactory diamond content provides the wear-resistant metal-matrix composites. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.