An Experimental Approach for Optimizing Coating Parameters of Electroless Ni-P-Cu Coating Using Artificial Bee Colony...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Engineering
• Tribology

Background:

• Electroless Ni-P-Cu coatings offer excellent wear resistance.
• Optimizing tribological properties is crucial for extending component lifespan.
• Process parameters significantly influence coating performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate and optimize the tribological behavior (wear depth and coefficient of friction) of electroless Ni-P-Cu coatings.
• To determine the optimal process parameters for enhanced coating performance.
• To utilize the artificial bee colony algorithm for multi-response optimization.

Main Methods:

• Taguchi L27 experimental design was employed.
• Four parameters were varied: nickel sulphate, sodium hypophosphite, copper sulphate concentrations, and heat treatment temperature.
• Tribological testing (wear, friction) and material characterization (SEM, XRD, EDX) were performed.

Main Results:

• Wear and friction increased with nickel concentration and decreased with copper concentration.
• Optimal conditions identified: low nickel, medium hypophosphite, high copper concentrations, and high heat treatment temperature.
• Artificial bee colony algorithm successfully optimized the multi-response objective function.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully optimized Ni-P-Cu coatings for reduced wear and friction.
• Specific parameter ranges were identified for achieving superior tribological performance.
• The findings provide valuable insights for material selection and process control in demanding applications.