Effect of Phases on the Frictional Properties of Electroless Ni-B Nano-Composite Coating

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Abstract
As-deposited amorphous (determined through XRD) electroless Ni-B coating upon heat treatment transforms to crystalline phases, Ni3B, Ni2B and Ni whose volume fractions can vary widely. A micro and nano tribological study through ball-on-disk tribometer and lateral force microscopy has been performed to understand the effect of phase mixture (Ni3B +Ni2B) on the frictional properties of this coating. Though scaling of the contact area from micro to nano level strongly influences the friction coefficient, it has also been found that increase in the Ni2B:Ni3B ratio of the crystalline coating reduces the friction coefficient significantly.