The Effect of B₄C Nanoparticles on the Corrosion and Tribological Behavior of Electroless Ni-B-B₄C Composite Coatings

CZU 669.018.25

In this study, the electroless method was successfully used to deposit composite coatings containing B₄C nanoparticles on Ck45 carbon steel. The characteristics of coatings were investigated with the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hardness of coatings was measured by Vickers micro-hardness test with a load of 1 N. The hardness of the composite coating of Ni-B-B₄C was about 870 Vickers, which increased to 1350 Vickers after heat treatment at 400°C for 1 hour, which was much more than for Ni-B coating and Ck45 steel. The wear test was carried out using the pin-on-disk test technique. The results indicated an improvement in the wear resistance of Ni-B-B₄C composite coatings compared to that of Ni-B and Ck45. The results obtained from the Tafel polarization test indicated an increase in the corrosion resistance of Ni-B-B₄C composite coatings compared to that of Ni-B coatings and Ck45 steel.

Keywords: nano-B₄C, electroless deposition, composite coating, tribological behavior, corrosion.