The preparation and tribological investigation of Ni-P amorphous alloy nanoparticles

Amorphous Ni-P alloy nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction of nickel acetate in water reacted with sodium hypophosphite under stirring. The nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results of XRD and TEM showed that nanoparticles have an average diameter 100 nm. And XPS analysis indicated that part of the surface of Ni-P amorphous alloy nanoparticles was oxidized. The tribological properties of the prepared Ni-P nanoparticles as an additive in lithium grease were evaluated with a four-ball friction and wear tester. The worn surfaces of the lubricated GCr15 steel were analyzed by means of XPS and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The lubricating mechanisms were discussed on the basis of XPS and SEM analyses of the worn steel surfaces. The results show that these nanoparticles as a grease additive can effectively enhance the friction-reduction and antiwear ability of lithium grease. Tribochemical reactions were involved for steel-steel frictional pair lubricated with the lithium grease containing amorphous Ni-P alloy nanoparticles, with the formation of a boundary lubricating and protecting film composed of additives of lithium grease and tribochemical reaction products (iron phosphate, iron oxides, nickel oxide, nickel, etc.) of the lubricants. This contributes to improve the tribological properties of the lithium grease.