Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni Coatings
Research into the introduction of alloying and reinforcing nanocomposites into nickel (Ni) coatings has been motivated by the need for tribologically superior coatings that will improve energy efficiency. Using pulse electrodeposition, this work investigates the effects of adding cobalt (Co) as the...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Micromachines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/175 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849718463863455744 |
|---|---|
| author | Aashish John Adil Saeed Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan |
| author_facet | Aashish John Adil Saeed Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan |
| author_sort | Aashish John |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research into the introduction of alloying and reinforcing nanocomposites into nickel (Ni) coatings has been motivated by the need for tribologically superior coatings that will improve energy efficiency. Using pulse electrodeposition, this work investigates the effects of adding cobalt (Co) as the alloying nanoparticle and silicon carbide (SiC), zirconium oxide (ZrO<sub>2</sub>), and aluminium oxide (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) as reinforcing nanocomposites to Ni coatings. The surface properties, mechanical strength, nanotribological behaviour, and wettability of these coatings were analysed. Surface characteristics were evaluated by the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope, revealing a grain dimension reduction of approximately ~7–43% compared to pristine Ni coatings. When alloying and reinforcing nanocomposites were added to Ni coatings, nanoindentation research showed that there was an increase in nanohardness of ~12% to ~69%. This resulted in an improvement in the tribological performance from approximately 2% to 65%.The hydrophilic nature of Ni coatings was observed with wettability analysis. This study demonstrates that nanocomposite reinforcement can be used to customise Ni coatings for applications that require exceptional tribological performance. The results point to the use of Ni-Co coatings for electronics and aerospace sectors, with more improvements possible with the addition of reinforcing nanoparticles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-407990ca99c542648c788d14f84a9032 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj-art-407990ca99c542648c788d14f84a90322025-08-20T03:12:22ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2025-01-0116217510.3390/mi16020175Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni CoatingsAashish John0Adil Saeed1Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan2NanoCorr, Energy & Modelling (NCEM) Research Group, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Poole BH12 5BB, UKNanoCorr, Energy & Modelling (NCEM) Research Group, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Poole BH12 5BB, UKNanoCorr, Energy & Modelling (NCEM) Research Group, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Poole BH12 5BB, UKResearch into the introduction of alloying and reinforcing nanocomposites into nickel (Ni) coatings has been motivated by the need for tribologically superior coatings that will improve energy efficiency. Using pulse electrodeposition, this work investigates the effects of adding cobalt (Co) as the alloying nanoparticle and silicon carbide (SiC), zirconium oxide (ZrO<sub>2</sub>), and aluminium oxide (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) as reinforcing nanocomposites to Ni coatings. The surface properties, mechanical strength, nanotribological behaviour, and wettability of these coatings were analysed. Surface characteristics were evaluated by the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope, revealing a grain dimension reduction of approximately ~7–43% compared to pristine Ni coatings. When alloying and reinforcing nanocomposites were added to Ni coatings, nanoindentation research showed that there was an increase in nanohardness of ~12% to ~69%. This resulted in an improvement in the tribological performance from approximately 2% to 65%.The hydrophilic nature of Ni coatings was observed with wettability analysis. This study demonstrates that nanocomposite reinforcement can be used to customise Ni coatings for applications that require exceptional tribological performance. The results point to the use of Ni-Co coatings for electronics and aerospace sectors, with more improvements possible with the addition of reinforcing nanoparticles.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/175tribologypulse electrodeposition coatingnanocompositeswettabilitynanotribologynanohardness |
| spellingShingle | Aashish John Adil Saeed Zulfiqar Ahmad Khan Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni Coatings Micromachines tribology pulse electrodeposition coating nanocomposites wettability nanotribology nanohardness |
| title | Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni Coatings |
| title_full | Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni Coatings |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni Coatings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni Coatings |
| title_short | Effect of Alloying and Reinforcing Nanocomposites on the Mechanical, Tribological, and Wettability Properties of Pulse-Electrodeposited Ni Coatings |
| title_sort | effect of alloying and reinforcing nanocomposites on the mechanical tribological and wettability properties of pulse electrodeposited ni coatings |
| topic | tribology pulse electrodeposition coating nanocomposites wettability nanotribology nanohardness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/2/175 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aashishjohn effectofalloyingandreinforcingnanocompositesonthemechanicaltribologicalandwettabilitypropertiesofpulseelectrodepositednicoatings AT adilsaeed effectofalloyingandreinforcingnanocompositesonthemechanicaltribologicalandwettabilitypropertiesofpulseelectrodepositednicoatings AT zulfiqarahmadkhan effectofalloyingandreinforcingnanocompositesonthemechanicaltribologicalandwettabilitypropertiesofpulseelectrodepositednicoatings |