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

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 propert...