Abstract
The effects of heat treatment on the wear resistance of electroless nickel deposits were investigated using a Nishihara wear tester, Suga abrasion tester, pin-disk wear tester and a Falex wear tester.
The results obtained are summarized as follows:
(1) Measured using a Nishihara wear tester, the best wear resistance was attained by heat treatment for 1hr at 600°C. Heat treatment for 1hr at 400°C decreased the wear resistance of deposits.
(2) Measured using a Suga abrasion tester, the wear resistance increased linearly with increasing hardness of the heat-treated deposits.
(3) Measured using a pin-disk wear tester and a Falex wear tester, the wear resistance improved remarkably after heat treatment for 1hr above 300°C.
Therefore, it is concluded that electroless nickel deposits can be very useful wear resistant material provided it has been heat-treated for 1hr at 500-600°C.
