In addition to the type and the quality of the material used in the fabrication of taps, other factors such as the geometry and the color of the used coating is important. Generally, faucets are made of either brass or lead alloys, so just their coatings make them look different. In addition to the alloy used in faucets, plating is of great importance, which can have a significant effect on the corrosion resistance of the faucet. Better quality of plating leads to a longer lifetime of faucets. Some types of decorative coatings used for faucets include brass, bronze, copper and steel. Nonetheless, today’s faucets with nanostructured coatings with higher hardness and corrosion resistance are produced because manufacturers are always looking for products with more beauty, quality and lifetime.
The "hardness" of this product was evaluated in accordance with the national standard "Metal Materials - Vickers Hardening Test - Part I: Test Procedure" to ISIRI 7810-1, The results are as follows:
| Hardness(HV)
|
Control sample
| 149Vickers |
Nano sample
| 739Vickers
|
The specimen hardness is measured by measuring the surface strength versus the indentor. As it is known, the hardness of the main sample (coated with TiN) has increased compared to the control sample (without coating). Also, the corrosion resistance of this coating has been improved from 100 hours to 240 hours in comparison with Nickel-Chromium plated samples.
