Wear Resistance of Electroless Nickel Deposits

The effects of heat treatment on the wear resistance of electroless nickel deposits were investigated using a Nishihara wear tester, Suga abrasion tester, pin-disk wear tester and a Falex wear tester. The results obtained are summarized as follows: (1) Measured using a Nishihara wear tester, the best wear resistance was attained by heat treatment for 1hr at 600°C. Heat treatment for 1hr at 400°C decreased the wear resistance of deposits. (2) Measured using a Suga abrasion tester, the wear resistance increased linearly with increasing hardness of the heat-treated deposits. (3) Measured using a pin-disk wear tester and a Falex wear tester, the wear resistance improved remarkably after heat treatment for 1hr above 300°C. Therefore, it is concluded that electroless nickel deposits can be very useful wear resistant material provided it has been heat-treated for 1hr at 500-600°C.