Laser surface texturing is one of the promising surface modification techniques to reduce wear and friction properties of materials. In this study, we report the comparative effect of laser surface texturing on commercial nickel, electrodeposited nickel and Ni–SiC composite coatings. Hemispherical dimples, with 80–200 μm dimple spacing, were created and examined on the surfaces of the materials studied. The results revealed that microsurface texturing with 150 μm dimple spacing considerably improved the coefficient of friction. Electrodeposited nickel has shown improved coefficient of friction under identical texturing and tribological conditions when compared to commercial nickel. Furthermore, incorporation of SiC nanoparticles in nickel, by codeposition processes, resulted in the increase in microhardness of the coating, which in turn prevented the dimples from being deformed after wear testing. Dimple spacing accuracy and incorporated second phase ceramic particles both contributed significantly to reduction in coefficient of friction of electrodeposited Ni–SiC composite coatings.
Ramesh BapuG. N. K. and JayakrishnanS.: ‘Development and characterization of electro deposited nickel–titanium carbo nitride (TiCN) metal matrix nanocomposite deposits’, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2012, 206, 2330–2336.
2.
GyawaliG., HamalK., JoshiB., RajbhandariA. and Wohn LeeS.: ‘Microstructural and electrochemical analysis of Ni–SiC composite coatings prepared in presence of additives’, Mater. Lett., 2014, 126, 228–231.
3.
SrivastavaM., William GripsV. K. and RajamK. S.: ‘Influence of SiC, Si3N4 and Al2O3 particles on the structure and properties of electrodeposited’, Ni. Mater. Lett., 2008, 62, 3487–3489.
4.
BagheryP., FarzamM., MousaviA. B. and HosseiniM.: ‘Ni–TiO2 nanocomposite coating with high resistance to corrosion and wear’, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2010, 204, 3804–3810.
5.
CarpenterC. R., ShipwayP. H. and ZhuY.: ‘Electrodeposition of nickel–carbon nanotube nanocomposite coatings for enhanced wear resistance’, Wear, 2011, 271, 2100–2105.
6.
LowC. T. J., WillsR. G. A. and WalshF. C.: ‘Electrodeposition of composite coatings containing nanoparticles in a metal deposit’, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2006, 201, 371–383.
7.
AghaieE., NajafiA., Maleki-GhalehH. and MohebiH.: ‘Effect of SiC concentration in electrolyte on Ni–SiC composite coating properties’, Surf. Eng., 2013, 29, 177–182.
8.
GyawaliG., ChoS. H. and LeeS. W.: ‘Electrodeposition and characterization of Ni–TiB2 composite coatings’, Met. Mater. Int., 2013, 19, 113–118.
9.
BeneaL., WengerF., PonthiauxP. and CelisJ. P.: ‘Tribocorrosion behaviour of Ni–SiC nano-structured composite coatings obtained by electrodeposition’, Wear, 2009, 266, 398–405.
10.
AnderssonP., KoskinenJ., VarjusS., GerbigY., HaefkeH., GeorgiouS., ZhmudB. and BussW.: ‘Microlubrication effect by laser-textured steel surfaces’, Wear, 2007, 262, 369–379.
11.
WakudaM., YamauchiY., KanzakiS. and YasudaY.: ‘Effect of surface texturing on friction reduction between ceramic and steel materials under lubricated sliding contact’, Wear, 2003, 254, 356–363.
12.
DumitruG., RomanoV., WeberH. P., HaefkeH., GerbigY. and PflügerE.: ‘Laser microstructuring of steel surfaces for tribological applications’, Appl. Phys. A., 2000, 70A, 485–487.
13.
BasnyatP., LusterB., MuratoreC., VoevodinA. A., HaaschR., ZakeriR., KohliP. and AouadiS. M.: ‘Surface texturing for adaptive solid lubrication’, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2008, 203, 73–79.
14.
GerbigY. B., AhmedS. I. U., ChetwyndD. G. and HaefkeH.: ‘Topography-related effects on the lubrication of nanostructured hard surfaces’, Tribol. Int., 2006, 39, 945–952.
15.
DumitruG., RomanoV., WeberH. P., SentisM., HermannJ., BruneauS., MarineW., HaefkeH. and GerbigY.: ‘Metallographical analysis of steel and hard metal substrates after deep-drilling with femtosecond laser pulses’, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2003, 208–209, 181–188.
16.
GollochR., MerkerG. P., KessenU. and BrinkmannS.: ‘Benefits of laser structured cylinder liners for internal combustion engines’, in ‘Proc. 14th Int. Colloq. on ‘Tribology—tribology and lubrication engineering’, Ostfildern, Germany, January 2004 vol. I’, (ed. BartzW.., 321–328; 2004.
17.
NeudeckerT., PoppU., SchramlT., EngelU. and GeigerM.: ‘Towards optimized lubrication by micro texturing of tool surfaces’, in ‘Proc. 6th ICTP, Berlin, Germany, September 1999, Advanced Technology of Plasticity, Vol. I’, 619–626; 1999.
18.
García-LecinaE., García-UrrutiaI., DíezJ. A., SalvoM., SmeacettoF., GautierG., SeddonR. and MartinR.: ‘Electrochemical preparation and characterization of Ni/SiC compositionally graded multilayered coatings’, Electrochim. Acta, 2009, 54, 2556–2562.
19.
SrivastavaM., GripsV. K. W. and RajamK. S.: ‘Electrochemical deposition and tribological behaviour of Ni and Ni–Co metal matrix composites with SiC nano-particles’, Appl. Surf. Sci., 2007, 253, 3814–3824.
20.
PavlatouE. A. and SpyrellisN.: ‘Influence of pulse plating conditions on the structure and properties of pure and composite nickel nanocrystalline coatings’, Russ. J. Electrochem., 2008, 44, 745–754.
21.
KilicF., GulH., AslanS., AlpA. and AkbulutH.: ‘Effect of CTAB concentration in the electrolyte on the tribological properties of nanoparticle SiC reinforced Ni metal matrix composite (MMC) coatings produced by electrodeposition’, Colloids Surf. A, 2013, 419A, 53–60.
22.
FazelM., Garsivaz JaziM. R., BahrmzadehS., BakhshiS. R. and RamazaniM.: ‘Effect of solid lubricant particles on room and elevated temperature tribological properties of Ni–SiC composite coating’, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2014, 254, 252–259.
