Electroless Nickel Coatings for High Temperature Applications

Abstract

This chapter aims to discuss the evolution of electroless nickel coatings with respect to their tribological behavior with special emphasis on their applicability at high-temperature-based applications. Electroless nickel coatings have tremendous potential as anti-wear and anti-friction coatings under ambient condition. The investigation of their tribological properties at high temperatures is relatively new. At demanding conditions, most conventional lubricants lose their properties and hence the use of self-lubricating coatings is unavoidable. Due to high melting point of nickel and oxidation resistance, electroless nickel-based coatings may prove to be suitable candidate at high temperatures. A review and analysis of the tribological characteristics of electroless nickel coatings especially at high temperatures is therefore necessary and has been reported in this chapter. Future research directions for the improvement of coating properties at high temperature are also identified from the review.