Corrosion and Wear Behavior of Electroless Nickel Coatings

Abstract

This chapter describes how corrosion is the degradation of a material due to a reaction with its environment. Wear is another deteriorating phenomenon which erodes the contacting surfaces of any mechanical component gradually. Although corrosion and wear are two different phenomenon they are often interdependent and in most practical situations take place simultaneously. Fortunately, several surface modification methods exist which can protect the surface of metal against corrosion and wear. Among them, electroless nickel coatings is a technology where a coating is applied without the use of external current source. The primary advantages of electroless coatings include uniform coating and ability to coat non-conductive materials. Electroless nickel coatings possess excellent properties such as high hardness, good wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The corrosion and wear behavior of these coatings mainly depend on bath ingredients, deposition conditions, heat treatment temperature, etc.