Effect of counterface materials on the wear of electroless nickel-phosphorus coatings

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Abstract
The wear behaviour of electroless nickel against itself, plain carbon steel, stainless steel and electrodeposited chromium under dry, sliding contact has been investigated. The rate of wear of electroless nickel coatings is shown to be strongly dependent upon the nature of the counterface material. Electroless nickel in the as-deposited state incurred catastrophic adhesive wear against all the counterfaces tested with the exception of electrodeposited chromium, although significant adhesive wear was also observed at the latter counterface. Heat treatment of the electroless nickel coating eliminated catastrophic wear against all counterfaces except stainless steel, which constantly gave rise to the most severe wear. The lowest wear rates were achieved when both surfaces were heat treated electroless nickel.