Abstract
The paper presents the influence of the nickelising parameters on the structure and tribological properties of composite coatings AHC+Ni, including nickel nanowires, which have been obtained by nickelising of anodic hard coatings on aluminium alloys. The influence of nickelising parameters on the utility properties of the coatings is presented in the diagrams. The absorbability and roughness Ra of coatings have been chosen as the utility properties important from tribological point of view. Coatings with high absorbability and low roughness feature good tribological properties, for example, during cold start of piston machines. Nickel precipitates and nanowires enable sliding of cast iron against aluminium oxide. On the basis of the elaborated diagrams, the potential user can select nickelising parameters to produce coatings featuring the required properties.