Achieving Superior Wear and Corrosion Resistance in a Gradient Nanograined Ni-B Alloy

Abstract

Gradient nanograined (GNG) materials have become one of the research hotspots in the field of nanomaterials due to their unique structure-property relationship and application prospect in engineering systems. In the present work, a novel GNG Ni-B sample with grain size changing continuously from micrometer-scale (Ni plating stage) to several nanometers (Ni-B plating stage) were prepared by direct-current electrodeposition in a single plating bath. Compared with homogenous nanograined (NG) Ni-B, GNG Ni-B exhibited lower friction coefficient and wear rate under dry sliding condition, and better corrosion resistance in 3.5% NaCl solution. Moreover, the wear and corrosion resistance of GNG Ni-B after annealing at 200oC were further enhanced due to annealing hardening and storage energy release induced by grain boundary (GB) relaxation, providing a novel approach for preparing anti-wear and anti-corrosion coatings.

Keywords: Electrodeposition, gradient nanograined structure, Ni-B, wear, Corrosion, stability