Corrosion resistance, thermal diffusivity and mechanical properties of Ni–SiO₂ nanocomposite coatings on a 316 stainless steel for heat exchanger applications

Abstract

In this study, the effect of pure Ni and Ni–SiO2 nanocomposites coatings on corrosion, wear resistance and thermal conductivity of 316 stainless steel substrates was investigated with the purpose of extending the service life of 316 stainless steel plate heat exchangers. The nanocomposite coatings were developed by electroplating process in a Watts bath in different concentration values of SiO2 nanoparticles (10, 20 and 30 g l−1). Electrochemical corrosion was run to examine the corrosive performance of the coatings. The results showed that the Ni–SiO2 nanocomposite with concentration of 30 g l−1 had a higher corrosion resistance. A pin on disk wear test demonstrated that, in comparison to 316 stainless steel, the wear resistance of the Ni–SiO2 nanocomposite (30 g l−1) was up to 25% lower while its friction coefficient was almost the same. In addition, as measured via the laser flash method and differential scanning calorimetry, the thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity of the sample respectively were found to be 32 and 43% lower in comparison to 316 stainless steel. Microhardness measurement via a Vickers microindenter showed that the microhardness of the Ni–SiO2 nanocomposite coating was more than three times higher than that of 316 stainless steel for all the reinforcement concentrations.

Enhancing Wear and Surface Hardness: Revolutionizing SS-304 with Microwave-Assisted Cladding of Ni-SiO2 Composite Coatings

“…The surface hardness of SS-304 experienced a notable increase of approximately 36.89% following the microwave-assisted cladding process with Ni and 15% SiO2. This significant enhancement in hardness signifies the effectiveness of the cladding technique in improving the mechanical properties of the substrate [58][59][60][61][62]. The incorporation of Ni and SiO2 particles into the coating matrix contributed to the observed increase in surface hardness.…”