Inner Surface Coating of Non-Conductive Tubular Substrate Using Electrophoretic Deposition

Inner surface of microporous alumina tube was coated with nanoporous alumina layer using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process. Polypyrrole (Ppy) film was formed on the inner wall of the porous tube to give electrical conductivity by chemical polymerization of pyrrole (Py). The nanoporous structure was controled using bimodal suspension of alumina powders with 0.6 μm and 30 nm in ethanol. The thickness of the coated layer was controlled by varying the processing parameters such as deposition time and DC applied voltage. After the deposition, the coated substrate was sintered at 1250°C for 2 h to bond the coated layer with the substrate.The microstructure of the substrate and the coated layer was observed by SEM. The results show the good interfacial joining between the substrate and the coated layer; they are not seperatated after the Ppy burnt-out. Crack-free and nanoporous layer on the microporous substrate was successfully fabricated.