Exploration of the mechanism of wear and seawater erosion resistance of modified MXene-reinforced Ni-Cu alloy composite coatings

Wear and erosion are common issues encountered when applying metal components in harsh marine environments. In this study, N-MX@ZnO materials were prepared by a synergistic modification of Ti3C2Tx using ethylenediamine and zinc oxide quantum dots. Subsequently, the Ni-Cu/N-MX@ZnO coating was deposited onto J55 steel using pulsed electrodeposition, exhibiting excellent tribological properties. The toughness, wear, and seawater erosion behavior of the coatings were investigated. The results demonstrated that the COF value of the Ni-Cu/N-MX@ZnO coating was reduced by 48.23 % and the impedance value was increased by 300 % in comparison to the pure sample. The enhancement mechanism can be attributed to the physical barrier effect and uniform dispersion effect of N-MX@ZnO, which caused the Ni-Cu/N-MX@ZnO coatings to form a friction-transferring film during the friction process.