Fabrication of Various Electroless Ni–P Alloy/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composite Films and Their Frictional Properties

Abstract

Ni–P alloy/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite films were fabricated using an electroless plating method, and their microstructures and frictional properties were studied. MWCNTs of various sizes were used and three kinds of electroless plating baths were prepared to form the Ni–P alloy matrix with varying phosphorus contents. Heat-treatments of the composite films were also carried out. The microstructures of the composite films were examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Frictional properties of the composite films were investigated using a ball-on-plate method. Ni–P alloy/MWCNT composite films with different phosphorus contents, classified as high phosphorus (12–13 mass %), medium phosphorus (6–8 mass %), and low phosphorus (2–4 mass %) types, were fabricated using electroless deposition. The Ni–P alloy/MWCNT composite films showed lower friction coefficients compared to Ni–P alloy films with the same phosphorus content both before and after heat-treatment. The friction coefficients of the films were affected by the microstructure and size of the MWCNTs, the composition of the Ni–P alloy matrix, and the heat-treatment.