Title: Influence of surfactants on the tribological behaviour of electroless Ni–P coatings

Authors: R. Elansezhian, B. Ramamoorthy, P. Kesavan Nair

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Section, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering Section, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India. ' Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India

Abstract: Electroless nickel–phosphorus coating has been deposited onto plain carbon steel specimens by using an alkaline bath based on NiCl₂ as source of nickel cations. The tribological behaviour under dry non-lubricated conditions has been evaluated by employing the pin-on-disc test method. Two surfactants namely sodium dodecyl sulphate and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide were added to the EN bath for the first time in the similar kind of study. The influence of the surfactants on the hardness, friction and wear behaviour of the coatings was investigated and compared against the samples produced without addition of surfactants.

Keywords: electroless coatings; wear; friction; surfactants; hardness; SDS; sodium dodecyl sulphate; CTAB; cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide; tribology; nickel–phosphorus coating; carbon steel; nickel cations; pin-on-disc test.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2010.033253

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.258 - 268

Published online: 14 May 2010 *

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