Study on Ni+W Combined with SiC Nanocoatings Prepared using Pulse Electrodeposition Method

Ni+W coating gained significant attention for designing metal parts, hydraulic cylinders, agricultural rods, and agricultural pumps because of their excellent resistance to wear and corrosion. In this study, Ni+W combined with SiC nanocoatings are successfully prepared on mild steel by utilizing the pulse electrodeposition strategy. The atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffractometer, energy dispersive x-Ray spectroscopy (EDX), friction wear test, and hardness tester were utilized to further investigate the surface morphology, phase structure, wear properties and hardness of Ni+W combined with SiC nanocoatings, respectively. The results indicated the ~ 32 nm SiC size in nanocoatings with a 6 g/L concentration of electrolyte. The Ni+W combined with SiC nanocoatings deposited at a SiC concentration of 6 g/L had a dense and smooth surface with a depression depth and a bump height of 76.3 nm and 106.6 nm, respectively. The result demonstrates that an uniform and smooth Ni+W combined with SiC nanocoating can be prefabricated by using appropriate plating parameters. The diffraction angles of 41.1, 51.9, and 71.1° correspond to the three diffraction peaks of the Ni+W combined with SiC nanocoatings fabricated at 3 g/L SiC concentration, which are the sharpest of all nanocoatings, corresponding to the (111), (200) and (220) planes of the Ni-W grains, respectively. Moreover, the minimum values of wear depth and wear width of Ni+W combined with SiC nanocoatings fabricated at a SiC concentration of 3 g/L were separately 33.1 μm and 5.6 mm. There are fine scratches and some shallowness on the surface of the Ni+W combined with SiC nanocoatings deposited at SiC concentration of 6 g/L, which indicates the outstanding tribological properties of the nanocoatings. Furthermore, there are Si, Ni, O and C elements present on the surface of the worn Ni+W combined with SiC nanocoatings observed by EDX results.