Development of Ni-B electroless coating from stabilizer free bath and characterization of high temperature tribological behaviour, scratch and corrosion resistance

Abstract The current work investigates the effects of variation of coating bath temperature on friction and wear behaviour of electroless Ni–B (ENB) coatings developed from stabilizer free bath. Coating is applied to specimens made up of AISI 1040 steel. Coatings were deposited at three different coating bath temperatures (85 °C, 90 °C and 95 °C). Field emission scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer, and x-ray diffraction were used to characterize the coating for surface morphology, chemical composition, and phase structure respectively. Pin-on-disc tribo-tester was used to estimate the friction and wear behaviour of ENB coatings at room temperature (25 °C), 100 °C, 200 °C and 300 °C. The coefficient of friction was higher at high temperature due to higher roughness of the coatings obtained from stabilizer free bath, adhesion and ploughing. The wear rate at 200 °C or 300 °C was lower compared to 100 °C. Additionally, the ENB coatings were subjected to thermogravimetric analysis which reveals higher thermal stability of coatings obtained at 95 °C. A scratch tester at constant (6 N) and progressive load (5–24 N) was used to estimate the coatings scratch hardness and adhesion. The corrosion behaviour of ENB coatings in 3.5% NaCl was studied using potentiodynamic polarization tests. The Ni-B coated specimens could efficiently provide barrier protection to steel substrate. But the corrosion potential was lower compared to lead stabilized bath.