Preparation and properties of Ni-W-P-TiO2 nanocomposite coatings developed by a sol-enhanced electroplating method

Abstract Several Ni-W-P-TiO2 nanocomposite coatings were developed by the sol-enhanced electroplating method. The phase and elemental compositions of coatings were determined, and the surface and cross-section morphology were characterized. The mechanical and corrosion performance were systematically tested. The results revealed the addition of 5 ml·L−1 TiO2 sol caused a compact coating surface, while higher concentrations of TiO2 reduced the coating thickness and led to the inferior surface microstructure. The comparison in physiochemical properties of prepared coatings confirmed the superior performance of the Ni-W-P-TiO2 nanocomposite coating at 5 ml·L−1 TiO2 sol addition. Under this condition, the best mechanical properties were achieved when abrasive wear was the dominating wear-resistance mechanism, and the best corrosion resistance was obtained due to its smooth and compact surface microstructure.