Tribological Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Porous Structure Ni-Mo/ZrO₂ Alloys

• Main Authors: Ning Li, Hong Xu, Xinhui Li, Weizeng Chen, Lijuan Zheng, Lirong Lu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Coatings
• Subjects: Ni-Mo-ZrO₂ alloys; corrosion resistance; tribological properties; microstructure
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/10/8/767

Ni-Mo-ZrO₂ composite coatings were produced by pulse electrodeposition technique from alkaline electrolytes containing dispersed ZrO₂ nanopowder. The structure, microhardness, corrosion properties and tribological properties of Ni-Mo-ZrO₂ composites with different content of molybdenum and ZrO₂ have also been examined. Structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that an increase in molybdate concentration in the electrolyte affects the microstructure, microhardness, corrosion properties and tribological properties of the amount of co-deposited ZrO₂ nanoparticles. The incorporation of ZrO₂ nanoparticles into the Ni-Mo alloy matrix positively affects the microhardness and also slightly improves the corrosion properties of Ni-Mo alloy coatings. In addition, both the coefficient of friction and the salt-water lubrication sliding wear rate of Ni-Mo-ZrO₂ coatings decreased with increasing the ZrO₂ content. Wear test and corrosion resistance test results indicated that the intermetallic composite had an excellent wear-resistance and corrosion resistance at room-temperature, which is attributed to the high hardness and strong atomic bonding of constituent phases Ni-Mo and polarization effect of ZrO₂ nanoparticles.