Optimization of wear rate and COF of heat treated electroless Ni-B-W coating from a stabilizer free bath using grey relational analysis

Abstract

The current work studies wear rate and COF of electroless Ni-B-W coating and its optimization with help of Grey Relational Analysis. The coatings were obtained from a stabilizer free bath. In general, electroless Ni-B-W coating is obtained from a lead nitrate stabilized bath. In a quest to eliminate the same due to its toxicity, the current investigation is carried out. The coating bath temperature (85–95 °C), heat treatment temperature (350–450 °C), and heat treatment time (1–3 hrs) were varied at three levels. Taguchi’s L9 array was used in current tests. Grey Relational Analysis was used to predict an optimized parameter which improved COF and wear rate of electroless Ni-B-W coating under dry sliding conditions. The wear mechanism under optimized condition was also investigated.