Tribological properties of Ni–P-multi-walled carbon nanotubes electroless composite coating

• Published in: Materials letters 2003, Vol.57 (7), p.1256-1260
• Main Authors: Chen, W.X, Tu, J.P, Xu, Z.D, Chen, W.L, Zhang, X.B, Cheng, D.H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Exact sciences and technology; Mechanical and acoustical properties; Mechanical and acoustical properties; adhesion; Ni–P-CNTs composite coatings; Physical properties of thin films, nonelectronic; Physics; Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); tribological properties
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-577X(02)00968-0

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have super-strong mechanical characteristics and unique hollow nanotube structure and are believed as very ideal materials for fabricating the excellent composites. In this paper, tribological properties of Ni–P-CNTs composite coating prepared by electroless technique were investigated using a ring-on-block test rig. The results indicated that addition of CNTs would result in an increase in hardness of the composite coating. Due to reinforcement and reduced friction, the tribological properties of Ni–P-CNTs composite coating were greatly improved. The Ni–P-CNTs composite coating exhibited not only higher wear resistance but also lower friction coefficient than the Ni–P–SiC and Ni–P-graphite coatings. After treatment at 400 °C for 2 h, the wear resistance of the Ni–P-CNTs electroless composite coating improved because of the Ni 3P precipitation in Ni-matrix.