Multi-objective optimization of electroless ternary Nickel–Cobalt–Phosphorous coating using non-dominant sorting genetic algorithm-II

Abstract

Study of electroless Nickel–Cobalt–Phosphorous coating was conducted on pure Copper substrate. The weight percentages of Nickel and Cobalt in the deposited mass, evaluated through energy dispersive X-ray analysis, have been selected as the response variables for statistical analysis. A response surface model with central composite design is developed to explain the effect of curvature in the predicted responses. Student’s t test has identified that concentration of Cobalt Sulfate is the significant process parameter for both the responses. The response surface plots and p-values have predicted the same. Fisher’s F test confirms that the response surface equation has excellent fitting to the observed values. A multi-objective optimization method has been employed in a quest to obtain the optimal values of process parameters, to maximize the responses. The Pareto optimal front of solutions, obtained from NSGA-II, provides more flexibility to the decision maker with the values of the optimal process parameters.

Keywords

• Electroless Ni–Co–P coating
• Fisher’s F-test
• p-Values
• Multi-objective optimization
• Genetic algorithms
• NSGA-II