Electroplating NiW and NiRe alloys as functional alternative coatings

Mittweida University is a university of applied sciences in Central Saxony with a strong focus on research and transfer. Founded in 1867 as a technical centre, the state university has more than 7.000 students in five faculties and four research focuses. The transfer of knowledge and technology plays an essential role at Mittweida University, especially through the ambition to establish national and international collaborations and, at the same time, to assume responsibility for regional development.

A transfer strategy was established, which defines four strategic fields of action in knowledge and technology transfer:

• Transfer via cooperations (in particular R&D projects, contract research, transfer projects),
• Transfer via minds (in particular cooperative PhD examination procedures, endowed professorships),
• Transfer via spin-offs and property rights
• Transfer via communication (in particular scientific events and publications).

Relevant expertise: Prof. Köster's working group has years of experience in the field of electroplating. Electrolyte developments including layer characterisation have been successfully carried out in several projects. In addition to galvanic deposition, there are also extensive experience in the field of electroless deposition and the pre-treatment of substrates.

Role in the project: Lead of WP2 and WP6. Beside project coordination, the scientific task in this project is electrolyte and process development, layer characterization as well as the development of bath analysis.

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Relevant expertise: As a research service provider, especially for small and medium-sized companies, the IKS conducts industry-related research, development and technology transfer in the field of corrosion, corrosion protection and corrosion analysis. Through the participation of the institute in previous research projects in the field of process engineering and corrosion analysis, the institute has extensive knowledge and experience to carry out the research project applied for and also the specialist knowledge to evaluate the research results.

Role in the project: Lead of WP3. Upscaling of the developed electroplating technology for the deposition of novel and innovative NiW and NiRe layers as alternative for hard chrome and for grid production as alternative for gold, including the substrate pre-treatments as well the design of the electrodes and sample holders; characterisation of the material properties (corrosion and wear tests, morphology, chemistry/ composition); comparison of NiW and NiRe with hard chrome (from technological and economic point of view); development of a process control.

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• The most advanced research facility in the world in the field of photonuclear physics, a new interdisciplinary research field which brings together, for the first time, high-power lasers and nuclear physics.
• The nuclear physics pillar of the Pan-European Distributed Research Infrastructure ELI-Extreme Light Infrastructure.
• The largest investment ever made in scientific research in Romania, co-financed by the European Commission and the Romanian Government from Structural Funds via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
• Implemented by the Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH), which generates almost 10% of Romania's scientific output. Relevant expertise: Experience with multiple types of Talbot-Lau and Talbot X-ray phase-contrast imaging setups based on grids and other types of X-ray optics. Role in the project: Lead of WP1. Characterise NiW and NiRe grids with phase contrast and dark field contrast X-ray imaging of biomedical interest.

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Relevant expertise: This group has significant academic and industry application experience making it a leading X-ray imaging group worldwide. The relevant expertise refers to X-ray imaging specifically in high resolution micro computed tomography (microCT), used for inspection and quantification of defects and flaws in materials, and used widely in materials sciences. The leader of this group is member of the international association for computed tomography, has published over 100 journal articles and is an author of a new review paper on this.

article X-ray computed tomography in the journal "nature reviews methods primers"

Role in the project: Lead of WP 4 and 5. Nickel alloy grids examination, setup of grid based interferometry, exploitation manager.

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Relevant expertise: Microworks’ unique technology (X-Ray lithography) has made progress of X-ray phase- and dark field imaging possible for many industrial and academic institutions. Their close contact to customers provides the right background to define the requirements and specifications for the NiW and NiRe layers, which will be developed within this project.

Role in the project: SME partner. Definition of requirements of NiRe and NiW alloys for use as X-ray absorption material, manufacture and provision of polymer templates for grid structures. Manufacture the grid demonstrator and transfer results to production.

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Relevant expertise: CMF has 5 years of experience in electroplating and electroless deposition of different materials in various fields of application. The company's founders, Mr. Grieger and Mr. Konrad, have over 20 years of professional experience in electroless and electroplating deposition.

Role in the project: SME partner. Provides chrome-plated components. Manufactures the hard chrome replacement NiW and NiRe demonstrator and transfers results to production.

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