An electroless deposition method was used to modify the surface properties of rice husk ceramic particles (RHC) by depositing nano-nickel on the surface of the RHC (Ni-RHC). The dry tribological performances of aluminum matrix composite adobes containing different contents of RHC and Ni-RHC particles have been investigated using a micro-tribometer. Results showed that the Ni–RHC particles substantially improved both the friction and wear properties of the Ni-RHC/aluminum matrix adobes. The optimal concentration was determined to be 15 wt% for both the RHC and Ni–RHC particles. The improvements in the tribological properties of aluminum adobes including the Ni-RHC were ascribed to frictioninduced peeling off of Ni coating and formation of protection layer on the wear zone, both of which led to low friction and wear volume.

Abstract
 1. Introduction
 2. Experimental
  2.1. Materials and sample preparation
  2.2. Analysis methods
 3. Results
  3.1. Friction reduction
  3.2. Wear resistance
  3.3. Surface analysis
 4. Discussion
 5. Conclusions
 References

• Lehua Cheng(College of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chaohu University)
• Dongrui Yu(Institute of Tribology, Hefei University of Technology)
• Enzhu Hu(Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Hefei University) Corresponding Author
• Yuchao Tang(Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Hefei University)
• Kunhong Hu(Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Hefei University)
• Karl David Dearn(Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham) Corresponding Author
• Xianguo Hu(Institute of Tribology, Hefei University of Technology)
• Min Wang(College of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Chaohu University)