Nano Friction Behavior of Electroless Nickel Phosphorus Coatings

Nano-tribology is a field that has gained significant relevance in the last few years. Electroless nickel (EN) coatings have shown huge potential for tribology-based applications. The present research investigates the nanotribological behavior of different EN coatings, namely Ni-P, Ni-P-W, and Ni-P-Cu. The study involves testing coated pin specimens against a suitable counterface. A nano tribometer is used to test the specimens and measure the coefficient of friction (COF). The experiments are conducted by varying the sliding velocity while maintaining a constant load and vice versa. The surface topography of the coatings is examined using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDAX). The findings reveal similarities in the nano frictional behavior of the coatings to their behavior in macro scale.