Improved wear properties of Ni-Ti nanocomposite coating with tailored spatial microstructures by extra adding CeO2 nanoparticles

In the present work, CeO2 nanoparticles were extra added into Ni-Ti nanocomposite coating to optimize the spatial microstructures and wear properties. Before adding CeO2 nanoparticles into Ni-Ti nanocomposite coating, Ti microparticles distributed in forms of cluster in Ni deposits, leading to the spatial inhomogeneity of microstructures like local large grains and residual [200] fiber textures. Correspondingly, the hardness in small-grain regions was up to similar to 4456 +/- 46 MPa, while the hardness in large-grain areas dropped to values as low as similar to 3493 +/- 40 MPa. Besides that, inside pores and jagged surface were observable, confining the wear resistance capacity. The average hardness was similar to 3814 +/- 279 MPa. After extra adding CeO2 nanoparticles into Ni-Ti nanocomposite coating, Ti microparticles homogeneously scattered throughout the whole nanocomposite coating, leading to the spatial homogeneity of microstructures and properties. Grain size steadily kept at similar to 40 nm and the hardness stabilized at similar to 4326 +/- 150 MPa. Inside pores vanished, the surface became smooth, and residual [2 0 0] texture was fractured. Benefiting from the modified spatial microstructures and improved hardness, enhanced wear resistance was achieved.