Nickel matrix composite coatings: Application in textile machinery and evaluation of cotton products quality

Coatings applied to several mechanical parts involved in the cotton textile industry are expected to improve production efficiency and to decrease the relevant costs. The quality of cotton products is one of the most crucial parameters in the development of textile industry and is significantly asso ciated with the mechanical and tribological properties of the coated machin ery parts. For this purpose, nickel matrix coatings containing silicon carb ide (SiC) micro-particles, prepared under pulse plating conditions were app lied on several parts. Surface morphology, preferred orientation of the cry stals, incorporated SiC percentage and mechanical properties of these coati ngs were investigated. Moreover, the influence of the surface coating on th e cotton products quality was studied by the means of a prototypal method, which determines the extent of wear on a typical cotton fabric, under stric tly controlled conditions. It has been proved that Ni/SiC coatings, prepare d under very well defined conditions (pulse current density, frequency, dut y cycle, etc), present relatively low roughness, high microhardness, low sl iding friction coefficient between the coating and typical cotton products and reduced wear against cotton fabrics or yarns.