Effect of Reduced Graphene Oxide Reinforcement on the Wear Characteristics of Electroless Ni-P Coatings

Electroless composite coatings with various concentrations of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) particles were deposited onto mild steel substrate. The effects of adding rGO particles by varying their concentration from 0 to 100 mg/L on morphology, composition, microhardness, adhesion, wear and friction of the electroless composite coatings were investigated. Among the various parameters that influence the tribological behavior, sliding velocity was varied within a specific range for definite concentrations of rGO to obtain enhanced wear resistance in this study. The micrographs of the worn surfaces and indented spots were examined for the nature of wear mechanism and interfacial adhesion. The wear rate increased with increasing sliding velocity but was relatively stable for coatings with lower concentrations of rGO.