Review of Nickel-Based Electrodeposited Tribo-Coatings

Among various methods used for protecting the industrial components from wear/abrasion failures, electrodeposition has attracted considerable attention in recent years because of its advantages such as being efficient, accurate, affordable, and easy to perform. In this regard, electrodeposition of nickel-based composite and alloy coatings is an inexpensive method compared with other coating methods such as chemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition. Furthermore, nickel-based composite electrodeposition is an eco-friendly substitute for conventional toxic coatings such as hard chrome. Embedding hard particles within the metallic matrix improves the wear resistance by increasing the ductility of the matrix in the contact area, changing the preferred grain growth direction to close-packed directions, and boosting dispersion and grain-refinement strength. In addition, lubricant particles provide superior anti-abrasive behavior because of their non-sticky nature. Several factors affect the incorporation of the particles into the electrodeposited coating and therefore the wear behavior of these coatings is related to different parameters such as current density, bath composition, pH, amount and size of the embedded particles. This review paper provides an overview of the wear behavior of nickel-based electrodeposited coatings including their composites and alloys with the focus on the parameters affecting wear rate, coefficient of friction, hardness, and roughness.