Abstract

The electrophoretic deposition process of Ni nano-particles in organic suspension was employed for self-repairing of heat exchanger tubes. For this purpose, Ni nano-particles prepared by levitational gas condensation method were dispersed into the solution of ethanol with the addition of dispersant Hypermer KD2. For electrophoretic deposition of Ni nano-particles on the Ni alloy specimen, constant electric fields of 20 and 100 V cm-1 were applied to the specimen in Ni-dispersed solution. It was found that as electrophoretic deposition proceeds, the size of the pit or crack remarkably decreased due to the agglomeration of Ni nano-particles at the pit or crack. This strongly suggests that the electrophoretic mobility of the charged particles is larger for the damaged part with a higher current value rather than outer surfaces with a lower current value.

• Keywords: Nano-particle;Electrophoretic Deposition;Self-Repair;Pitting Corrosion;Crack;Agglomeration;