Type and concentration effects of particulate solid lubricants on the microstructure, friction, and wear of electrodeposited Ni composite coatings

Abstract

Nickel–MoS2 composite coatings were obtained by electrodeposition from a nickel electrolyte containing suspended MoS2 particles. The coating composition, morphology, crystalline structure, microhardness, and frictional behavior were studied as a function of MoS2 concentration. The results obtained in this study revealed that the codeposited lubricant particles strongly influenced the composite nickel coating properties. It was found that increasing codeposited MoS2 decreases the average grain size of nickel crystallites and leads to the formation of clusters which, in turn, lead to rough coatings with a high and variable thickness. The results of tribological response indicated that the reduction of friction coefficient and the improvement of wear resistance were performed until an optimal value of MoS2 concentration, which provided the best condition that promoted the tribo-layer stability and maintained the matrix integrity. A comparison of tribological and micromechanical properties between the coating containing the optimal fraction of MoS2 particles and the coating containing nearly the same fraction of graphite particles has been undertaken. Unlike the case of the addition of graphite particles, the microhardness of composite coating has been enhanced with the incorporation of MoS2 particles. However, the incorporation of graphite particles in the coating induced more effective lubrication and wear resistance.