The effect of SiC particles added in electroless Ni–P plating solution on the properties of composite coatings

To verify the relationship between the properties of composite coatings prepared on Q235 steel and the SiC content of electroless Ni–P–SiC composite coatings, systematic experiments with varied SiC contents and surfactants have been conducted. The experimental results indicated the approximate linear relation between the SiC content and the hardness of composite coatings. With the increasing of SiC content, wear resistance increases correspondingly. In particular, the effect of SiC content on the corrosion resistance of Ni–P–SiC composite coatings immersed in different corrosive solutions (i.e. 5% H2SO4, 20% NaOH and 3.5% NaCl) is explored, followed by a comparative analysis of the corrosion resistance between Ni–P and Ni–P–SiC coatings. Corrosion test indicates that NaOH solution makes no differences in the corrosion resistance between Ni–P coatings and electroless Ni–P–SiC composite coatings, both being uncorroded. Exposed to NaCl solution, the corrosion resistance of electroless Ni–P–SiC composite coatings decreases gradually with the increasing of SiC content in coatings. In H2SO4 solution, the corrosion resistance of coatings increases initially and decreases afterwards with the sustained increasing of SiC content in coatings, and the optimized corrosion resistance is obtained at a SiC content of 9.41 wt.%. Finally, a competent electroless Ni–P–SiC composite plating process producing a high wear resistance and sound corrosion resistance of the coatings is obtained.