Mechanical Properties, Antifriction, and Corrosion Resistance of Electrodeposited FeCoNiCr/MXene Composite Coatings

FeCoNiCr/MXene composite coatings have been fabricated on the Inconel 718 using direct current electrodeposition from an plating bath containing varying MXene concentration. The coatings’ morphology, structure, and composition are characterized. The mechanical properties, wear resistance at room and elevated temperature (200 °C, 400 °C and 600 °C), as well as corrosion resistance are investigated. FeCoNiCr/MXene composite coating exhibits a face‐centered cubic structure with numerous microprotrusions distributed on its surface, identified as MXene microstructures encapsulated by FeCoNiCr. At an optimal MXene concentration of 7 g L ⁻¹ , the elemental distribution is highly uniform, yielding an MXene‐reinforced Fe ₁₅ Co _34.5 Ni _34.8 Cr _15.7 composite. At this concentration, the coating demonstrated the finest grain size (4.4 nm), the highest hardness (663.0 HV), the lowest room‐temperature friction coefficient (0.1229) and wear rate (1.086 × 10 ⁻⁵ mm ³ N ⁻¹ m ⁻¹ ), and maintained the lowest friction coefficient (0.2883) at 600 °C. Electrochemical measurements revealed the maximum charge transfer resistance ( R _ct ) of 2671 Ω cm ² , a corrosion potential ( E _corr ) of −0.407 V, and a corrosion current density ( I _corr ) of 1.049 × 10 ⁻⁵ A cm ⁻² . FeCoNiCr/MXene composite coating possesses high hardness, exceptional wear and friction‐reducing properties, excellent high‐temperature wear resistance, and superior corrosion resistance. These are attributed to MXene‐induced grain refinement, dispersion strengthening, and MXene's 2D layered structure, outstanding self‐lubricating properties, and chemical stability.