[01] Prasanna Gadhari, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. [02] Prasanta Sahoo, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.

Presently, various techniques are available to improve the mechanical as well as tribological properties of ferrous/non ferrous material. Surface properties, mechanical properties and tribological properties of the base metal are improved by co-deposition of electroless nickel-phosphorus layer on metal surface, the mechanical and tribological properties of the base metal. Electroless composite coatings are deposited by incorporating second phase particles such as Al2O3, TiO2, SiC, WC, B4C, PTFE, WS2, and MOS2 particles into Ni–P alloy matrix to stimulate the tribological properties of the substrate. The present study deals with study of wear behavior of Ni–P–Al2O3 composite coating using optimization of the coating process parameters. Nickel source, reducing agent, composite particles, and annealing temperature are considered as parameters to minimize the wear rate of composite coatings. Taguchi design with L27 orthogonal array is used for optimization of composite coating process parameters. From experimental results it is confirmed that annealing temperature is the most significant parameter and reducing agent is significant parameter to improve wear resistance of the coating. Similarly, interaction between nickel source and Al2O3composite particle has significant effect on wear resistance. From SEM micrograph it is confirmed that the wear mechanism is adhesive in nature. The microstructure study and characterization of the coating is studied with help of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive analysis. X-ray diffraction is used to understand the phase structure of as-deposited and heat treated coating samples.

Ni–P–Al2O3 Composite Coating, Optimization, Wear Resistance, Taguchi Method, Orthogonal Array

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