Synthesis of electroless
Ni-P/Ni-P-W nanocomposite platings and sustainable tribological characteristics
Ansari A., Kumar A., Tripathi A., Sharma S. and Sharma A.
Res. J. Chem. Environ.; Vol. 29(8); 44-53;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/298rjce044053; (2025)
Abstract
The tungsten (W) is an exceptionally strong refractory metal of group VIB of periodic
table and has the highest melting point, the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion
with high neutron capturing capability and can remove sulphur from crude oil. Therefore,
in this investigation, the synthesized sodium-tungstate nanoparticles (Na2WO4, 0.5±0.01gpl
in amount and 40-150 nanometer in size, Zirox technologies) were unsteadily dispersed
into an acidic electroless Ni-P bath (pH=05.6) for Ni-P-W nanocomposite deposits.
Consequently, as an outcome of the experimental work the Ni-P/Ni-P-W nanocomposite
deposits with thicknesses ranging from 03.2 to 14.7-micron meters were produced
on the mild steel (MS; AISI1040 grade) substrates. The SEM, EDAX and XRD instrumental
methods were also used to appraise the surface morphology, elemental contents and
phases of deposited Ni-P/Ni-P-W nanocomposite deposits. The domino effect of these
studies illustrate that the Ni-P-W nanocomposite deposits have small whitish colour
homogeneous husky globules of tungsten (W) nanoparticles into the electroless Ni-P
matrix.
Furthermore, the daintily created Ni-P/Ni-P-W deposits were tested for wear losses
and microhardness values using a wear tester (model TR-20LE-CHM-400; Ducom) and
a Vicker microhardness tester (VMHT-MOT). The wear and microhardness tests were
carried out in accordance with the ASTM G99 standard with varying loads and deviations
over an invariable 250.0-meter distance (wear test). Consequently, the inclusion
of tungsten (W) nanoparticles into the acidic electroless Ni-P matrix had a noteworthy
impact on wear and microhardness resistance and can be used as an alternate of hard
chrome-platings. The results can be arranged into the following manner: Ni-P-W (heated
at 400°C) > Ni-P-W (heated at 600°C) > Ni-P-W (heated at 200°C) > Ni-P (heated at
400°C) > Ni-P (as-deposited) > MS.
