Electrodeposition of Ni-P Alloy-Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composite Films

Ni-P alloy-multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite films were fabricated by an electrodeposition technique, and their microstructure, hardness, and frictional properties were analyzed. Ni-P alloy-MWCNT composite films containing 20-22 atom % P and 0.7-1.2 mass % MWCNTs were electrodeposited from a composite plating bath. MWCNTs were embedded relatively uniformly in the Ni-P alloy matrix. The hardness of the composite films was higher than that of the Ni-P alloy films, both before and after heat-treatment, and the friction coefficient of the composite films was lower than that of the Ni-P alloy films.