Characterization and frictional behaviour of nanostructured Ni-W-MoS2 composite coatings

M. F. CARDINAL; P. A. CASTRO; J. BAXI; H. LIANG; F. J. WILLIAMS

SURFACE AND COATINGS TECHNOLOGY

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2009 vol. 204 p. 85 - 90

0257-8972

Ni–W–MoS2 composite coatings were obtained by pulse plating from a Ni–W 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 indicate that co-deposited lubricant particles strongly influenced the composite Ni–W coating properties. It was found that increasing co-deposited MoS2 diminished tungsten content in the coating and consequently increased the average grain size. Ni–W nanostructured coatings with high MoS2 content have a porous sponge-like structure, high surface roughness and irregular frictional behavior. However, the friction coefficient of Ni–W coatings is reduced to half its value with low MoS2 content.