Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Electroless Nickel Coatings Deposited on an ABS Substrate at Different pH Levels
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Two nickel coatings—with pH values of 3.8 and 4.8 and thicknesses of 9.38 μm and 4.88 μm, respectively—were chemically deposited onto ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) substrates with a thickness of 2040 μm. ABS is a plastic widely used as a structural material. Various types of components—formerly made of metal but now produced from ABS plastic to save metal and reduce structural weight—can be easily extruded or, in certain cases, molded. Nanoindentation experiments were conducted on the two nickel coatings and the ABS substrate using the XP head and CSM module of a G200 nanoindenter (KLA Corporation, Milpitas, CA, USA), alongside an “Express test” on the substrate. The substrate’s influence on the film’s indentation modulus was eliminated using the Hay-Crawford analytical model. Moreover, wear resistance tests were performed on the coatings, with the sample surfaces scanned using the NanoVision module both before and after the tests. The influence of pH on the mechanical properties of the investigated coatings was evaluated. It was found that with increasing pH of films, their indentation hardness and indentation modulus decrease.
Source: Electrochem
Authors: Sabina Cherneva, Dimitar Stoyhev, Jennifer Hay
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,207
OpenAlex ID: W7212039395