Tribological Characteristics of Cu-3%Ti Composite and Investigating the Coating Durability: Novel Approach of Electroless Nickel-Based Coatings

The deposition of copper with titanium is intense and has a high strength-to-weight ratio in industries by a mechanical process. The parameters play a more prominent part in improving the hardness of the material, which is deposited inside the bearings and electronic devices. Copper is used as the base material in this study due to its wide use in electrical devices and the marine and automobile industries, compared to steel. To improve the base material's hardness, 3% Ti is induced, but it has poor wear resistance. Hence, nanocoating is applied to the base material to overcome the defect. Three different electroless Ni-Zn, Ni-P, and Ni-Cr nanocomposite coatings are applied over the matrix. Ni-based alloy layers were coated using the electrodeposition technique. The coated material was evaluated based on mechanical and wear properties per ASTM standards. Additionally, the surface morphology of the coating developed was carried out using XRD, SEM, and FTIR studies. A remarkable wear rate improved after applying a coating. The high microhardness and tensile strength achieved for the Ni-P coated with Cu-3Ti composite are 36 HV and 221 MPa compared to other coated composites.