Wear Properties of Electroless Ni-p Coating: Effects of Different Production Parameters on the Properties of Electroless (En) Ni-p Deposits, Especially Wear Property

EN coatings have wide industrial applications owing to their excellent mechanical, physical, electrical, as well as corrosion and wear resistance properties. The utilization of Electroless Nickel-Phosphorus (EN) coatings has witnessed a staggering increase during the last two decades. Among the characteristics of EN coatings are superior corrosion and wear resistance especially in environments containing H2S and CO2, superior mechanical properties, uniform coating thickness, excellent surface finish properties, superb adhesion characteristics, and wide range of thickness. The EN coating process is based on a redox reaction in which a reducing agent is oxidized and Ni+2 ions are reduced on the surface of the substrate materials. Once the first layer of Ni is deposited, it acts as a catalyst for the process. If the reducing agent is sodium hypophosphite, the deposit obtained will be a nickel-phosphorus alloy. The objective of this research was to discuss the effects of different production parameters on the properties of electroless nickel phosphorus (EN) deposits, especially wear property.