Fabrication of various electroless Ni–P alloy/multiwalled carbon nanotube composite films on an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin

Ni–P alloy/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite films were fabricated on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin by electroless plating and their microstructures, adhesion strengths, and friction properties were investigated. Various types of MWCNTs were used. In addition, various electroless plating baths were prepared to form Ni–P alloy matrices with various phosphorus contents. To enhance the adhesion strength, the ABS resin substrate was subjected to roughening treatment. The microstructures of the composite films were examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Their adhesion strengths were measured by tensile tests. The friction properties of the composite films were investigated using the ball-on-plate method. Ni–P alloy/MWCNT composite films containing various types of MWCNTs and with Ni–P alloy matrices having various phosphorus contents were fabricated on the ABS resin substrates by electroless deposition. The adhesion strength between the Ni–P alloy/MWCNT composite films and the ABS resin substrate was more than 1300 N cm− 2. The Ni–P alloy/MWCNT composite films had considerably lower friction coefficients than the Ni–P alloy films. The friction coefficients of the composite films were significantly affected by the type of MWCNTs used.

Research Highlights
► Ni―P alloy/MWCNT composite films were fabricated on an ABS resin using an electroless plating technique.
► Adhesion strengths of the Ni―P alloy/MWCNT composite films were as high as the Ni―P alloy films.
► Friction coefficients of the Ni―P alloy/MWCNT composite films were lower than those of the Ni―P alloy films.