Nickel-boron coatings are used to improve friction and wear properties (and, in some cases, corrosion resistance). The nickel-boron coating investigated here is 5-6 wt% boron, and is deposited by electroless plating on a 1018 steel substrate. It is amorphous as-plated, and heat treatment is used to crystallize the coating to improve its hardness. To better understand and predict the effects of heat treatment, samples that had been isothermally annealed at various temperatures from 500ºC to 800ºC for either 2h or 5h were examined by several methods to determine the diffusion effects taking place during annealing. Samples were examined by XRD, both at the coating surface and at multiple depths within the coating. Optical microscopy and SEM were used to view the structure of the coating in cross-section. Cross sections were etched and examined by optical microscopy and SEM, as well as EDS, which was used to develop a Ni-Fe composition profile at the coating-substrate interface. Microhardness measurements were taken and used to develop microhardness profiles. Additional samples were annealed to investigate boron oxidation at the coating surface. Based on the data, there is a reduced amount of Ni3B near the outer surface of the heat-treated coatings, with the thickness of the resultant γ-Ni layer increasing with annealing time and temperature, from 2.4 to just over 13 µm. This low-boron region indicates that boron is diffusing out through the surface of the coating and oxidizing, which the literature indicates should result in the formation of B2O3. Because B2O3 is water-soluble, it is likely that it dissolved during the water quench that concluded most anneals. Diffraction and EDS data also indicate interdiffusion of the nickel in the coating and the iron in the steel substrate. This leads to the formation of a soft interdiffusion layer between the Ni3B coating bulk and steel substrate that appears to be a mix of ferrite and Ni3Fe.

Phase transformation behavior, micro structural development, mechanical and tribological properties of electroless Ni-B coating was characterized using different characterization techniques. As deposited electroless Ni-B coating containing 94 wt. % of NI and 6 wt. % of B is amorphous. It crystallizes via two exothermic reactions one at 3000C and another at 430˚C. It has been observed that there is also slow evolution of the heat in between this two exothermic reactions. XRD studies display that as deposited coating undergoes multi-stage crystallization events. At the first exothermic peak NI3B phases crystallizes, in between two a phase mixture of Ni and Ni3B and at the second exothermic peak NI2B + Ni3B crystallizes. Evolution of the free Ni in the complete crystalline coating is not predicted by the equilibrium phase diagram of the Ni-B system. Microscopic observation of the as deposited coating displays a novel compositionally modulated microstructure comprises of different length scales ranging from micrometer to nanometer level. In situ TEM study along with composition analysis were carried out in order to track the crystallization pathway and microstructural development. This kind of composition fluctuation of the coating is intrinsic to the deposition process. In best of our knowledge this kind of microstructure is the first time reported example of phase separation in a binary metal-metalloid system without spinoidal decomposition. Effect of this kind of microstructure and phase evolution on the mechanical and tribological properties of the coating is very profound. Increase in the nanocrystalline borides content of the coating increases the hardness value of the coating as well as improved tribological properties of the coating. In the low load regime (5 N and less) wear resistance of the coating is provided by the oxide layer formed on the wear track by preventing the direct contact between the coating and counterface. Local temperature rise due to friction and nancrystalline nature of the coating enhances the tendency of oxide layer formation. Characterization of the oxide layer was carried out using SEM, EPMA, Nanoindenation and Raman Spectroscopy. Whereas in case high load regime (above 5 N) this oxide layer breaks off and direct contact between the coating and counterface is established. This increases the wear rate of the coating. Material is removed from the coating through subsurface crack formation and propagation by low cycle fatigue mechanism. Effect of amorphous phase and free Ni on the tribological properties of the coating is detrimental by promoting a strong adhesion between the coating and steel counter face, whereas nanocrystalline borides shows opposite effect. A nano tribological studies using lateral force microscopy shows that nanocrystalline borides decreases the coefficient of friction of the coating. Phase evolution and microstructural characterization also shows that above 450˚C there is a significant diffusion of the boron from the coating to the steel substrate. This restrict the high temperature tribological studies of the coating up to a temperature range of 450˚C. Wear data along with worn track characterization demonstrate the fact that above 100˚C even in low load regime wear rate is very high. Wear of the coating is mainly governed by the plastic deformation of the coating and breakage of the protective oxide layer. Analytical calculation as well experimental observation shows that during the time of wear the temperature at the local contact region reaches a very high value even up to 1100˚C. This may soften the coating and causes the wear though plastic deformation of the coating.

Dans ce travail de thèse on étudie le développement de revêtements monocouches (simple couche) et multicouches à base de nickel en utilisant des techniques humides (électrodéposition et dépôt chimique dynamique). L'objectif principal est d'obtenir un revêtement d'une dureté élevée (supérieure à 500 HV) et une bonne résistance à la corrosion (plus de 500 heures en brouillard salin), sur la base des exigences de l'industrie aéronautique, principalement le groupe SAFRAN. Dans la première partie nous présentons le développement de revêtements de Ni par la technique d'électrodéposition. À partir d’un bain électrolytique de sulfamate avec différentes concentrations de samarium, nous avons obtenu un revêtement avec une résistance à la corrosion élevée. L'utilisation d'un bain électrolytique avec un additif de diméthyle amine borane (DMAB) conduit à un revêtement avec une dureté élevée. Ainsi, nous avons prépare un revêtement multicouche acier/Ni (Sm)/Ni-B, pour obtenir un dépôt avec bonne résistance à la corrosion (proportionné par la couche de Ni électrolytique obtenu à partir d’un bain avec samarium) et une dureté élevée (proportionné pour la couche Ni-B électrolytique). En outre, en employant la technique de dépôt chimique dynamique (JetMetal) on a obtenu un revêtement de Ni-B ayant une dureté élevée et un revêtement composite de Ni-B-PTFE avec de bonnes propriétés tribologiques. Finalement nous avons élaboré un revêtement multicouche acier /Ni (Sm)/NiB-SDS/NiBPTFE à partir des technologies de dépôt électrochimique et la technique JetMetal, le revêtement obtenu présente une bonne résistance à la corrosion, une dureté élevée et un faible coefficient de frottement. / In this thesis work we investigate the development of monolayer coatings (single layer) and nickel-based multilayers by using wet techniques (electrodeposition and dynamic chemical deposition). The main objective is to obtain a coating with high hardness (above 500 HV) and good corrosion resistance (over 500 hours in salt spray), based on the requirements of the aviation industry, mainly the SAFRAN group. The first part of this thesis examines the development of Ni coatings by using electrodeposition technique. From an electrolytic sulfamate bath with different samarium concentrations, can be obtained coatings with high resistance to corrosion, while the use of an electrolytic bath with dimethyl amine borane (DMAB) leads to a coating with high hardness. The development of multilayer coatings in an alternated way using two electrolytic baths (with different composition), was realized to take advantage of the individual properties of each deposit. Thus the steel/Ni (Sm)/Ni-B multilayer coating was obtained, in order to be use the good corrosion resistance of Ni layer obtained from a bath with samarium and the high hardness of a Ni-B coating. On the other hand, by employing the dynamic chemical deposition technique (JetMetal), Ni-B coating with high hardness and a composite coating Ni-B-PTFE with good tribological properties could be obtained. Finally, a multilayer coated steel/Ni(Sm)/NiB-SDS/NiB-PTFE was developed by combining the electroplating technology and dynamic chemical deposition technique, the obtained coating showed good corrosion resistance, high hardness and a low friction coefficient. / En este trabajo de tesis se investiga la elaboración de recubrimientos monocapa (una sola capa) y multicapas a base de níquel mediante el empleo de técnicas vía húmeda (electrodepósito y depósito químico dinámico). El objetivo principal es de obtener un recubrimiento con alta dureza (superior a 500 HV) y buena resistencia a la corrosión (superior a 500 h en cámara salina), en base a los requerimientos de la industria aeronáutica, principalmente el grupo SAFRAN. En la primera parte de esta tesis se estudia la elaboración de recubrimientos de Ni mediante el empleo de la técnica de electrodepósito. A partir de un baño electrolítico de sulfamato con diferente concentración de samario, se puede obtener un recubrimiento con alta resistencia a la corrosión. En tanto que el uso de un baño electrolítico con el aditivo dimetil amina borano (DMAB) permite obtener un recubrimiento con alta dureza. La elaboración de recubrimientos multicapas mediante el uso alternado de dos baños electrolíticos de composiciones diferentes, permite aprovechar las propiedades individuales de cada depósito. Así se elaboró un recubrimiento multicapa acero/Ni(Sm)/Ni-B, para aprovechar la buena resistencia a la corrosión de una capa de Ni obtenida a partir de un baño con samario y la dureza elevada de un recubrimiento Ni- B. Por otra parte, mediante el empleo de la técnica de depósito químico dinámico (JetMetal) fue posible obtener recubrimiento Ni-B con alta dureza y un recubrimiento compuesto Ni-B-PTFE con buenas propiedades tribológicas. Finalmente se elaboró un recubrimiento multicapa acero/Ni(Sm)/NiB-SDS/NiB-PTFE mediante el empleo combinado de la técnica de electrodepósito y la técnica de depósito químico dinámico, que presenta una muy alta resistencia a la corrosión, una alta dureza y un bajo coeficiente de fricción.