Wear resistance of a Ni-PTFE composite coating strengthened with nano-SiC particles

In order to strengthen the wear resistance of a Nickel-Polytetrafluoroethylene (Ni-PTFE) composite coating, the nano-Silicon Carbide (SiC) particles and the nano-PTFE particles were thoroughly mixed into a nickel Watts plating solution. The Ni-PTFE/SiC composite coating was then deposited by jet magnetic electroplating and compared with traditional jet-electroplated Ni, Ni-PTFE, and Ni-PTFE/SiC composite coatings. The microstructures and nanoparticle distributions of the composite coatings were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The wear resistance test was carried out by using a general friction and wear tester, and the wear marks were observed with a three-dimensional profiler. The results revealed that the SiC particles improved the surface morphology of the Ni-PTFE/SiC composite coating, as well as its microhardness and wear resistance.