High corrosion and wear resistant electroless Ni–P gradient coatings on aviation aluminum alloy parts

A Ni–P alloy gradient coating consisting of multiple electroless Ni–P layers with various phosphorus contents was prepared on the aviation aluminum alloy. Several characterization and electrochemical techniques were used to characterize the different Ni–P coatings’ morphologies, phase structures, elemental compositions, and corrosion protection. The gradient coating showed good adhesion and high corrosion and wear resistance, enabling the application of aluminum alloy in harsh environments. The results showed that the double zinc immersion was vital in obtaining excellent adhesion (81.2 N). The optimal coating was not peeled and shredded even after bending tests with angles higher than 90°and was not corroded visually after 500 h of neutral salt spray test at 35℃. The high corrosion resistance was attributed to the misaligning of these micro defects in the three different nickel alloy layers and the amorphous structure of the high P content in the outer layer. These findings guide the exploration of functional gradient coatings that meet the high application requirement of aluminum alloy parts in complicated and harsh aviation environments.

Degradation and biocompatibility of one-step electrodeposited magnesium thioctic acid/magnesium hydroxide hybrid coatings on ZE21B alloys for cardiovascular stents

Constructing a functional hybrid coating appears to be a promising strategy for addressing the poor corrosion resistance and insufficient endothelialization of Mg-based stents.Nevertheless,the steps for preparing composite coatings are usually complicated and time-consuming.Herein,a novel composite coating,composed of bioactive magnesium thioctic acid(MTA)layer formed by deposition and corrosion-resistant magnesium hydroxide(Mg(OH)_(2))layer grown in situ,is simply fabricated on ZE21B alloys via one-step electrodeposition.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)shows that the electrodeposited coating has a compact and uniform structure.And the high adhesion of the MTA/Mg(OH)_(2)hybrid coating is also confirmed by the micro-scratch test.Electrochemical test,scanning kelvin probe(SKP),and hydrogen evolution measurement indicate that the hybrid coating effectively reduces the degradation rate of Mg substrates.Haemocompatibility experiment and cell culture trial detect that the composite coating is of fine biocompatibility.Finally,the preparation mechanism of MTA/Mg(OH)_(2)hybrid coatings is discussed and proposed.This coating shows a great potential application for cardiovascular stents.

Antibacterial HA-coatings on bioresorbable Mg alloy

In this study,a calcium-phosphate coating was formed on a Mg-Mn-Ce alloy by the plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO).The antibiotic vancomycin,widely used in the treatment of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus),was impregnated into the coating.Samples with vancomycin showed high bactericidal activity against S.aureus.The mechanical and electrochemical properties of the formed coatings were studied,as well as in vitro cytotoxicity tests and in vivo tests on mature male rats were performed.According to SEM,EDS,XRD and XPS data,coatings had a developed morphology and contained hydroxyapatite,which indicates high biocompatibility.The analysis of roughness of coatings without and with vancomycin did not reveal any differences,confirming the high roughness of the samples.During electrochemical tests,an increase in corrosion resistance by more than two times after the application of PEO coatings was revealed.According to the results of an in vivo study,after 28 days of the implantation of samples with calcium phosphate PEO coating and vancomycin,no signs of inflammation were observed,while an inflammatory reaction developed in the area of implantation of bare alloy,followed by encapsulation.Antibiotic release tests from the coatings show a sharp decrease in the concentration of the released antibiotic on day 7 and then a gradual decrease until day 28.Throughout the experiment,no significant deviations in the condition and behavior of the animals were observed;clinical tests did not reveal a systemic toxic reaction.

Fabrication and characterization of electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni-Fe alloys for NiFe_2O_4 spinel coatings

Nanocrystalline Ni-Fe FCC alloy coatings with Fe content of 1.3%-39%（mass fraction） were fabricated on the nickel substrates using a DC electrodeposition technique. The crystal structure, lattice strain, grain size and lattice constant of the Ni-Fe alloy coatings were studied by X-ray diffraction technique. The chemical composition and surface morphology of the FCC Ni-Fe alloy coatings were investigated with the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy（EDS） and atomic force microscopy（AFM）. The results show that the Fe content of the Ni-Fe alloy coatings has a great influence on the preferred orientation, grain size, lattice constant and lattice strain. FCC Ni-Fe alloy coatings exhibit preferred orientations of（200） or（200）（111）. With an increase of Fe content, the preferred growth orientation of（200） plane is weakened gradually, while the preferred growth orientation of（111） increases. An increase of the Fe content in the range of 1.3%-25%（mass fraction） results in a significant grain refinement of the coatings. Increasing the Fe content beyond 25% does not decrease the grain size of FCC Ni-Fe alloys further. The lattice strain increases with increasing the Fe content in the FCC Ni-Fe alloys. Since the alloys with Fe content not less than 25% has similar grain size（~11 nm）, the increase in the lattice strain with the increase of Fe content cannot be attributed to the change in the grain size.

Greatly enhanced corrosion/wear resistances of epoxy coating for Mg alloy through a synergistic effect between functionalized graphene and insulated blocking layer

The poor corrosion and wear resistances of Mg alloys seriously limit their potential applications in various industries.The conventional epoxy coating easily forms many intrinsic defects during the solidification process,which cannot provide sufficient protection.In the current study,we design a double-layer epoxy composite coating on Mg alloy with enhanced anti-corrosion/wear properties,via the spin-assisted assembly technique.The outer layer is functionalized graphene(FG)in waterborne epoxy resin(WEP)and the inner layer is Ce-based conversion(Ce)film.The FG sheets can be homogeneously dispersed within the epoxy matrix to fill the intrinsic defects and improve the barrier capability.The Ce film connects the outer layer with the substrate,showing the transition effect.The corrosion rate of Ce/WEP/FG composite coating is 2131 times lower than that of bare Mg alloy,and the wear rate is decreased by~90%.The improved corrosion resistance is attributed to the labyrinth effect(hindering the penetration of corrosive medium)and the obstruction of galvanic coupling behavior.The synergistic effect derived from the FG sheet and blocking layer exhibits great potential in realizing the improvement of multi-functional integration,which will open up a new avenue for the development of novel composite protection coatings of Mg alloys.

ZIF-8-based micro-arc oxidation composite coatings enhanced the corrosion resistance and superhydrophobicity of a Mg alloy

Mg alloys are considered the most promising engineering materials because of their unique properties.However,the uncontrolled corrosion rate of these alloys limits their applications.Therefore,in this study,a micro-arc oxidation layer was used as a transition layer to“directly”grow a zinc-based metal-organic framework(MOF)composite coating on the surface of a Mg alloy(AZ91D).Herein,the two zeolitic imidazolate framework(ZIF-8)coatings with different morphologies were separately prepared by homologous metal oxide induction and a one-step in-situ growth method.The superhydrophobic composite coating showed strong hydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties,which could prevent the penetration of water and corrosive ions(Cl^(−))into the surface of AZ91D.Electrochemical tests demonstrated that the super-hydrophobic composite coatings greatly enhanced the corrosion resistance of AZ91D,and the corrosion current density decreased from 10^(−5)to 10^(−9)A/cm^(2).These results indicate that the ZIF-8 coatings are beneficial for improving the hydrophobicity and enhancing the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys.Therefore,MOF composite coatings provide a new strategy that can be used to prepare multifunctional anticorrosion coatings on metal substrates.

Adhesion property of AlCrNbSiTi high-entropy alloy coating on zirconium:experimental and theoretical studies

Experimental scratch tests and first-principles calculations were used to investigate the adhesion property of AlCrNbSiTi high-entropy alloy(HEA)coatings on zirconium substrates.AlCrNbSiTi HEA and Cr coatings were deposited on Zr alloy substrates using multi-arc ion plating technology,and scratch tests were subsequently conducted to estimate the adhesion property of the coatings.The results indicated that Cr coatings had better adhesion strength than HEA coatings,and the HEA coatings showed brittleness.The special quasi-random structure approach was used to build HEA models,and Cr/Zr and HEA/Zr interface models were employed to investigate the cohesion between the coatings and Zr substrate using first-principles calculations.The calculated interface energies showed that the cohesion between the Cr coating and the Zr substrate was stronger than that of the HEA coating with Zr.In contrary to Al or Si in the HEA coating,Cr,Nb,and Ti atoms binded strongly with Zr substrate.Based on the calculated elastic constants,it was found that low Cr and high Al content decreased the mechanical performances of HEA coatings.Finally,this study demonstrated the utilization of a combined approach involving first-principles calculations and experimental studies for future HEA coating development.

Tribological Behaviors of Electroless Nickel-Boron Coating on Titanium Alloy Surface

Titanium alloys are excellent structural materials in engineering fields,but their poor tribological properties limit their further applications.Electroless plating is an effective method to enhance the tribological performance of alloys,but it is difficult to efficiently apply to titanium alloys,due to titanium alloy’s strong chemical activity.In this work,the electroless Nickel-Boron(Ni-B)coating was successfully deposited on the surface of titanium alloy(Ti-6AL-4V)via a new pre-treatment process.Then,linearly reciprocating sliding wear tests were performed to evaluate the tribological behaviors of titanium alloy and its electroless Ni-B coatings.It was found that the Ni-B coatings can decrease the wear rate of the titanium alloy from 19.89×10^(−3)mm^(3)to 0.41×10^(−3)mm^(3),which attributes to the much higher hardness of Ni-B coatings.After heat treatment,the hardness of Ni-B coating further increases corresponding to coating crystallization and hard phase formation.However,heat treatment does not improve the tribological performance of Ni-B coating,due to the fact that higher brittleness and more severe oxidative wear exacerbate the damage of heat-treated coatings.Furthermore,the Ni-B coatings heat-treated both in air and nitrogen almost present the same tribological performance.The finding of this work on electroless coating would further extend the practical applications of titanium alloys in the engineering fields.

“Smart”micro/nano container-based self-healing coatings on magnesium alloys:A review

Coating technologies are a commonly used way to protect metals against corrosion.However,with more and more severe service environments of materials,many protective coating systems often are not environmentally friendly or toxic as in the case of chromates.Based on the world’s abundant ideal magnesium(Mg)and its alloy,the smart self-healing anticorrosive coating can autonomously restore the damaged part of the coating according to the environmental changes,strengthen the corrosion protection ability,and prolong its service life.This paper reviews the research progress of smart self-healing coatings on Mg alloys.These coatings mostly contain suitable corrosion inhibitors encapsulated into micro/nano containers.Moreover,the different self-healing mechanisms and functionalities of micro/nano containers are discussed.The micro/nano containers range from inorganic nanocontainers such as mesoporous nanoparticles(silica(SiO_(2)),titanium dioxide(TiO_(2)),etc.),over inorganic clays(halloysite,hydrotalcite-like,zeolite),to organic nanocontainers such as polymer microcapsules,nanofibers,chitosan(CS)and cyclodextrin(CD),as well as,carbon materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes and hybrids such as metal organic frameworks.The functioning of micro/nano containers can be divided in two principal groups:autonomous(based on defect filling and corrosion inhibition)and non-autonomous(based on dynamic bonds and shape memory polymers).Moreover,multi functionalities and composite applications of various micro/nano containers are summarized.At present,significant progress has been made in the preparation methods and technologies of micro/nano containers.Achieving long-term self-healing properties of coatings sensing of coating failure and early warning after self-healing function failure can be expected as the main development direction of self-healing corrosion protection coatings in the future.

Advancements in enhancing corrosion protection of Mg alloys:A comprehensive review on the synergistic effects of combining inhibitors with PEO coating

Magnesium(Mg)alloys are lightweight materials with excellent mechanical properties,making them attractive for various applications,including aerospace,automotive,and biomedical industries.However,the practical application of Mg alloys is limited due to their high susceptibility to corrosion.Plasma electrolytic oxidation(PEO),or micro-arc oxidation(MAO),is a coating method that boosts Mg alloys'corrosion resistance.However,despite the benefits of PEO coatings,they can still exhibit certain limitations,such as failing to maintain long-term protection as a result of their inherent porosity.To address these challenges,researchers have suggested the use of inhibitors in combination with PEO coatings on Mg alloys.Inhibitors are chemical compounds that can be incorporated into the coating or applied as a post-treatment to further boost the corrosion resistance of the PEO-coated Mg alloys.Corrosion inhibitors,whether organic or inorganic,can act by forming a protective barrier,hindering the corrosion process,or modifying the surface properties to reduce susceptibility to corrosion.Containers can be made of various materials,including polyelectrolyte shells,layered double hydroxides,polymer shells,and mesoporous inorganic materials.Encapsulating corrosion inhibitors in containers fully compatible with the coating matrix and substrate is a promising approach for their incorporation.Laboratory studies of the combination of inhibitors with PEO coatings on Mg alloys have shown promising results,demonstrating significant corrosion mitigation,extending the service life of Mg alloy components in aggressive environments,and providing self-healing properties.In general,this review presents available information on the incorporation of inhibitors with PEO coatings,which can lead to improved performance of Mg alloy components in demanding environments.

Micro-aluminum powder with bi-or tri-component alloy coating as a promising catalyst:Boosting pyrolysis and combustion of ammonium perchlorate

A novel design of micro-aluminum(μAl)powder coated with bi-/tri-component alloy layer,such as:Ni-P and Ni-P-Cu(namely,Al@Ni-P,Al@Ni-P-Cu,respectively),as combustion catalysts,were introduced to release its huge energy inside Al-core and promote rapid pyrolysis of ammonium perchlorate(AP)at a lower temperature in aluminized propellants.The microstructure of Al@Ni-P-Cu demonstrates that a three-layer Ni-P-Cu shell,with the thickness of~100 nm,is uniformly supported byμAl carrier(fuel unit),which has an amorphous surface with a thickness of~2.3 nm(catalytic unit).The peak temperature of AP with the addition of Al@Ni-P-Cu(3.5%)could significantly drop to 316.2℃ at high-temperature thermal decomposition,reduced by 124.3℃,in comparison to that of pure AP with 440.5℃.It illustrated that the introduction of Al@Ni-P-Cu could weaken or even eliminate the obstacle of AP pyrolysis due to its reduction of activation energy with 118.28 kJ/mol.The laser ignition results showed that the ignition delay time of Al@Ni-P-Cu/AP mixture with 78 ms in air is shorter than that of Al@Ni-P/AP(118 ms),decreased by 33.90%.Those astonishing breakthroughs were attributed to the synergistic effects of adequate active sites on amorphous surface and oxidation exothermic reactions(7597.7 J/g)of Al@Ni-P-Cu,resulting in accelerated mass and/or heat transfer rate to catalyze AP pyrolysis and combustion.Moreover,it is believed to provide an alternative Al-based combustion catalyst for propellant designer,to promote the development the propellants toward a higher energy.

New superhydrophobic composite coatings on Mg-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy

A novel combined method for the formation of composite coatings on the Mg-Mn-Ce alloy is developed.Ceramic like matrix was formed on the Mg alloy surface by the plasma electrolytic oxidation.Then the samples were subsequently processed by dip-coating in an alcohol suspension of superdispersed polytetrafluoroethylene and spraying with the tetrafluoroethylene telomers solution.SEM,OSP,and SPM was used to study structure of formed surfaces.It was established by measurements of CA and CAH,as well as surface free energy calculations that formed coatings demonstrate superhydrophobic properties due to the presence of an irregular hierarchical surface structure and low surface free energy of fluoropolymers.The coating preserves its hydrophobic properties after exposure to high and low temperatures,for a long time as well as being in corrosive environments.EDS and XRD data analysis confirmed the presence of organofluorine compounds in the composite layers,including in the form of crystalline polytetrafluoroethylene.Using potentiodynamic polarization test and EIS,it was found that the resulting coatings significantly increase the corrosion resistance of Mg material.These data are also confirmed by salt spray tests for 40 days.Incorporation of fluoropolymers additionally decrease coatings coefficient of friction.

Recent progress in self-repairing coatings for corrosion protection on magnesium alloys and perspective of porous solids as novel carrier and barrier

Featuring low density and high specific strength, magnesium(Mg) alloys have attracted wide interests in the fields of portable devices and automotive industry. However, the active chemical and electrochemical properties make them susceptible to corrosion in humid, seawater, soil,and chemical medium. Various strategies have revealed certain merits of protecting Mg alloys. Therein, engineering self-repairing coatings is considered as an effective strategy, because they can enable the timely repair for damaged areas, which brings about long-term protection for Mg alloys. In this review, self-repairing coatings on Mg alloys are summarized from two aspects, namely shape restoring coatings and function restoring coatings. Shape restoring coatings benefit for swelling, shrinking, or reassociating reversible chemical bonds to return to the original state and morphology when coatings broken;function self-repairing coatings depend on the release of inhibitors to generate new passive layers on the damaged areas. With the advancement of coating research and to fulfill the demanding requirements of applications, it is an inevitable trend to develop coatings that can integrate multiple functions(such as stimulus response, self-repairing, corrosion warning,and so on). As a novel carrier and barrier, porous solids, especially covalent organic frameworks(COFs), have been respected as the future development of self-repairing coatings on Mg alloys, due to their unique, diverse structures and adjustable functions.

Corrosion resistance and mechanisms of smart micro-arc oxidation/epoxy resin coatings on AZ31 Mg alloy: Strategic positioning of nanocontainers

Smart micro-arc oxidation(MAO)/epoxy resin(EP) composite coatings were formed on AZ31 magnesium(Mg) alloy. Mesoporous silica nanocontainers(MSN) encapsulated with sodium benzoate(SB) corrosion inhibitors were strategically incorporated in the MAO micropores and in the top EP layer. The influence of the strategic positioning of the nanocontainers on the corrosion protective performance of coating was investigated. The experimental results and analysis indicated that the superior corrosion resistance of the hybrid coating is ascribed to the protection mechanisms of the nanocontainers. This involves two phenomena:(1) the presence of the nanocontainers in the MAO micropores decreased the distance between MSN@SB and the substrate, demonstrating a low admittance value(^5.18 × 10^(-8)Ω^(-1)), and thus exhibiting significant corrosion inhibition and self-healing function;and(2) the addition of nanocontainers in the top EP layer densified the coating via sealing of the inherent defects, and hence the coating maintained higher resistance even after 90 days of immersion(1.13 × 10^(10)Ω cm^(2)).However, the possibility of corrosion inhibitors located away from the substrate transport to the substrate is reduced, reducing its effective utilization rate. This work demonstrates the importance of the positioning of nanocontainers in the coating for enhanced corrosion resistance,and thereby providing a novel perspective for the design of smart protective coatings through regulating the distribution of nanocontainers in the coatings.

Advances in Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide steam coatings on Mg alloys:A review

Layered double hydroxide(LDH)coatings on magnesium(Mg)alloys shine brightly in the field of corrosion protection because of their special ion-exchange function.State-of-the-art steam coating as a type of LDH film preparation technique has emerged in recent years because only pure water is required as the steam source and its environmentally friendly LDH coating fits the current need for green development.Moreover,this coating can effectively inhibit the corrosion of the Mg alloy substrate due to the chemical bonding between the coating and the Mg alloy substrate.This review systematically explains cutting-edge advancements in the growth mechanism and corrosion behavior of LDH steam coatings,and analyzes the advantages and limitations of the steam-coating method.The influencing factors including pressure,CO_(2)/CO_(3)^(2-),aluminum content of the substrate alloy,solution type,and acid-pickling pretreatment,as well as the post-treatment of steam-coating defects,are comprehensively elucidated,providing new insights into the development of the in situ steam-coating technique.Finally,existing issues and future prospects are discussed to further accelerate the widespread application of Mg alloys.

Corrosion behavior of composite coatings containing hydroxyapatite particles on Mg alloys by plasma electrolytic oxidation: A review

Mg and its alloys have been introduced as promising biodegradable materials for biomedical implant applications due to their excellent biocompatibility, mechanical behavior, and biodegradability. However, their susceptibility to rapid corrosion within the body poses a significant challenge and restricts their applications. To overcome this issue, various surface modification techniques have been developed to enhance the corrosion resistance and bioactivity of Mg-based implants. PEO is a potent technique for producing an oxide film on a surface that significantly minimizes the tendency to corrode. However, the inevitable defects due to discharges and poor biological activity during the coating process remain a concern. Therefore, adding suitable particles during the coating process is a suitable solution. Hydroxyapatite(HAp)has attracted much attention in the development of biomedical applications in the scientific community. HAp shows excellent biocompatibility due to its similarity in chemical composition to the mineral portion of bone. Therefore, its combination with Mg-based implants through PEO has shown significant improvements in their corrosion resistance and bioactivity. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in the preparation, characterization, corrosion behavior and bioactivity applications of HAp particles on Mg-based implants by PEO.

Improved Corrosion Behavior of Biodegradable Mg-4Zn-1Mn Alloy Modified by Sr/F co-doped CaP Micro-arc Oxidation Coatings

The Sr/F co-doped CaP(Sr/F-CaP)coatings were prepared by micro-arc oxidation(MAO)under different voltages to modify the microstructure and corrosion behavior of Mg-4Zn-1Mn alloy.The surface and interface characteristics investigated using scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer(EDS)showed that the MAO coatings displayed uneven crater-like holes and tiny cracks under lower voltage,while they exhibited relatively homogeneous crater-like holes without cracks under higher voltage.The thickness of MAO coatings increased with increasing voltage.The corrosion behavior of Mg-4Zn-1Mn alloy was improved by the MAO coatings.The MAO coatings prepared under 450 V and 500 V voltages possessed the best corrosion resistance with regard to the electrochemical corrosion tests and immersion corrosion tests,respectively.The MAO coatings fabricated under 450-500 V could provide a better corrosion protection effect for the substrate.

Effects of nitrogen flux on microstructure and tribological properties of in-situ TiN coatings deposited on TC11 titanium alloy by electrospark deposition

In order to improve the tribological properties of titanium alloys,the in-situ TiN coatings were prepared by electrospark deposition（ESD） on the surface of TC11 titanium alloy.The effects of nitrogen flux on the microstructure and tribological properties of TiN coatings were investigated.The results show that the coating is relative thin when the nitrogen flux is small and mainly consists of Ti2N,α-Ti,Ti O and TiN phases,and the metastable phase of Ti2N is developed due to the rapid solidification of ESD.While in excessive nitrogen flux condition,many micro-cracks and holes might be generated in the coating.In moderate nitrogen flux,the coating is mainly composed of TiN phase,and is dense and uniform（50-55 μm）.The average hardness is HV0.2 1165.2,which is 3.4 times that of the TC11 substrate.The TiN coatings prepared in moderate nitrogen flux perform the best wear resistance.The wear loss of the coating is 0.4 mg,which is 2/9 that of the TC11 substrate.The main wear mechanisms of the coatings are micro-cutting wear accompanied by multi-plastic deformation wear.

Corrosion resistance of cerium-doped zinc calcium phosphate chemical conversion coatings on AZ31 magnesium alloy

Zinc calcium phosphate （Zn-Ca-P） coating and cerium-doped zinc calcium phosphate （Zn-Ca-Ce-P） coating were prepared on AZ31 magnesium alloy. The chemical compositions, morphologies and corrosion resistance of coatings were investigated through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （EDS）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, electron probe micro-analysis （EPMA） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM） together with hydrogen volumetric and electrochemical tests. The results indicate that both coatings predominately contain crystalline hopeite （Zn3（PO4）2·4H2O）, Mg3（PO4）2 and Ca3（PO4）2, and traces of non-crystalline MgF2 and CaF2. The Zn-Ca-Ce-P coating is more compact than the Zn-Ca-P coating due to the formation of CePO4, and displays better corrosion resistance than the Zn-Ca-P coating. Both coatings protect the AZ31 Mg substrate only during an initial immersion period. The micro-galvanic corrosion between the coatings and their substrates leads to an increase of hydrogen evolution rate （HER） with extending the immersion time. The addition of Ce promotes the homogenous distribution of Ca and formation of hopeite. The Zn-Ca-Ce-P coating has the potential for the primer coating on magnesium alloys.

Catalytic graphitization of PAN-based carbon fibers with electrodeposited Ni-Fe alloy

Ni-Fe alloy was electrodeposited on the surface of polyacrylonitrile （PAN）-based carbon fibers, and catalytic graphitization effect of the heat-treated carbon fibers was investigated by X-ray diffractometry and Raman spectra. It is found that Ni-Fe alloy exhibits significant catalytic effect on the graphitization of the carbon fibers at low temperatures. The degree of graphitization of the carbon fibers coated with Ni-Fe alloy （57.91% Fe, mass fraction） reaches 69.0% through heat treatment at 1 250 °C. However, the degree of graphitization of the carbon fibers without Ni-Fe alloy is only 30.1% after being heat-treated at 2 800 °C. The catalytic effect of Ni-Fe alloy on graphitization of carbon fibers is better than that of Ni or Fe at the same temperature, indicating that Ni and Fe elements have synergic catalytic function. Furthermore, Fe content in the Ni-Fe alloy also influences catalytic effect. The catalytic graphitization of Ni-Fe alloy follows the dissolution-precipitation mechanism.