To address the persistent disconnect between experimental teaching and engineering applications in the “Materials Surface Technology” course, this paper develops a comprehensive research-oriented teaching experiment based on a university-industry collaborative project. The experiment aims to cultivate students’ ability to solve complex engineering problems using surface engineering technologies, while deepening their understanding of the relationships among surface modification processes, microstructures, and material properties.

The designed experiment uses “electroless plating modification of 17-4PH stainless steel powder” as the core carrier. Students first prepare a Ni-P plating bath (containing sodium acetate, nickel sulfate, sodium hypophosphite, etc.) and conduct electroless plating at 90 ℃ to deposit a Ni-P coating onto the surface of 17-4PH stainless steel powder. The Ni-P coated powder is then consolidated via spark plasma sintering (SPS) under vacuum at 1000 ℃ for 10 minutes. Subsequently, samples undergo solid solution treatment at varying temperatures (1000 ℃, 1050 ℃, 1100 ℃, and 1150 ℃) for 1 hour followed by water cooling, then aging treatment at 480 ℃ for durations ranging from 1 to 10 hours. A comprehensive suite of characterization techniques is employed, including optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy for microstructural observation, X-ray diffraction for phase analysis, Vickers hardness testing and uniaxial compression testing for mechanical property evaluation, and electrochemical corrosion testing in 3.5 % (by weight) NaCl solution for corrosion resistance assessment.

The results demonstrate that following electroless plating, a dense Ni-P coating approximately 2~3 μm in thickness is uniformly deposited on the 17-4PH powder surface. The coated and sintered 17-4PH-Ni-P samples exhibit a two-phase microstructure consisting of γ-(Fe, Ni) and α-(Fe, Ni). After solid solution treatment at 1000 ℃ for 1 hour followed by aging at 480 ℃ for 8 hours, the modified sample achieves an optimal combination of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance: Vickers hardness reaches 347.7 HV, yield strength reaches 725 MPa, compressive strain exceeds 50% (56%), and the corrosion current density in 3.5%(by weight) NaCl solution is 1.28 × 10⁻⁶ A/cm², with a corrosion potential of −0.434 V. By comparison, the unmodified 17-4PH parent material exhibits a yield strength of 1065 MPa but only 13% compressive strain and a lower corrosion potential (−0.798 V) with a higher corrosion current density (1.54 × 10⁻⁶ A/cm²). The enhanced ductility and corrosion resistance of the modified material are attributed to the combined effects of Ni and P addition: Ni promotes Cr solubility to form a more stable Cr-oxide protective layer, while P contributes to the formation of fine precipitates (e.g., Cr-rich phases) and inhibits Cr depletion along grain boundaries.

This comprehensive research-oriented experiment successfully integrates powder metallurgy, surface modification, heat treatment, and advanced material characterization technologies into a systematic experimental teaching system for surface technology. The experiment enables students to master electroless plating techniques, understand the combined application of surface modification and powder metallurgy, and gain hands-on experience with state-of-the-art materials characterization equipment. By linking process parameters to microstructural evolution and ultimate material performance, the experiment strengthens students’ understanding of the fundamental relationships among processing, microstructure, and properties. Moreover, the experiment bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical engineering challenges, simulates authentic scientific research processes, and develops students’ independent thinking, research literacy, and problem-solving skills. This design serves as a typical case of research-assisted teaching and provides a valuable reference for the reform of experimental courses focused on surface engineering technologies in materials science and engineering education.