Influence of Solid Lubricants on Microstructure and Tribological Performance of Nickel-Based Composite Coatings

Abstract

The present study investigates the microstructure and high-temperature tribological studies of solid lubricant encapsulated nickel alloy coatings developed by tungsten inert gas (TIG) cladding technique. The TIG current values of 90 A, 95 A, and 100 A were considered as process parameters. The microstructure of the coatings (coating A: NiCrSiB/WC/Ag/hBN, coating B: NiCrSiB/WC/MoS<inf>2</inf>/hBN) was characterized using the scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and EBSD (electron backscatter diffraction) analysis. The dry sliding wear studies were conducted using a pin on disc apparatus, and the microhardness of the coating was assessed using Vicker’s indentation technique. The results show that coating A exhibited high hardness and excellent tribological properties than coating B. In particular, coating A presents the high average microhardness (950 HV), low coefficient of friction (0.34), and wear rate (2.96 × 1−3 mm3/N-m). Additionally, coating A showed three-fold higher hardness and a 2.43 times lower wear rate than the titanium substrate. The lubricant phases (Ag, BN, Mo<inf>2</inf>S<inf>3</inf>) and oxide phases (TiO, Ag<inf>2</inf>O, Ni (TiO<inf>3</inf>)) formed in both coatings were adequate to reduce the material loss. © 2022, ASM International.