Fundamental investigations of electrical conductor fretting fatigue

Fretting is known to be the main factor leading to conductor individual wire breaks under aeolian vibration in the vicinity of a clamp. In this paper, previous studies on overhead electrical conductor bending fatigue are summarized. Results obtained with several conductor types and clamps are compared. A general fretting analysis as well as testing procedure are suggested. Influence of the main mechanical parameters on the occurrence of several types of degradation processes is discussed.     

An experimental study on radial fretting behaviour

A new test apparatus has been developed for radial fretting test. Main experimental conditions are as follows: the amplitude of normal load from 200 to 800N, the number of cycles from 1 to 3×10⁵ cycles. Three contact pairs (a 52100 ball against 52100, 1045, 1045 steel with TiN coating) were used for the test. Variations of normal load vs indentation depth between two contact surfaces have been analyzed as a function of cycles. Contact degradation was examined through metallographic expertise on the flat specimen and radial fretting behaviour was compared in the paper.     

Substrate dependence of the scratch resistance of CrN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> coatings on steel

Hard CrN_x coatings were sputter deposited on hot work tool steel (HWTS) and high speed steel (HSS) in an industrial PVD reactor. Coatings were deposited under various nitrogen flows. The thickness, density, hardness, elastic modulus, composition, and stress were determined for the coatings. The specimens were subjected to scratch testing. Two different failure mechanisms were investigated: chipping and complete coating removal. For all specimens, the coating-to-substrate adhesion was that good that adhesion did not limit the scratch resistance. Therefore, the minimum loads at which a given type of failure was initiated were not a measure for the coating-to-substrate adhesion. The scratch resistance was better for coatings on HSS than for coatings on HWTS. This is due to the higher hardness of the HSS. Substrate independent measures for the scratch resistance of the coating were obtained by considering critical track widths instead of critical loads. The hardening of the coating--substrate systems due to the coating was investigated. The uncoated substrates exhibited track width independent scratch hardness. For the coated specimens the scratch hardness increased with increasing track width until chipping of the coating occurred. Complete coating removal coincided with a decrease in hardness. Although the elastic properties, hardness, and thickness of all coatings were more or less equal, CrN_1.0 coatings outperformed CrN_0.6 coatings in scratch tests both on HSS and on HWTS.     

A theoretical model for the prediction of initial growth angles and sites of fretting fatigue cracks

The crack initiation mechanisms under fretting fatigue conditions are investigated. Fretting fatigue tests have been conducted on an aluminium alloy. Two major crack initiation mechanisms are experimentally observed. They are theoretically identified by employing a simple dislocation dipole model and taking into consideration the reverse sliding along dislocation layers and the influence of the distance between these layers. It is shown that cracks may initiate either by an extrusion-intrusion mechanism or a fatigue tensile process. Two parameters respectively linked to each of these initiation mechanisms are proposed to predict crack location. The theoretical crack initial growth directions and locations are shown to correlate very well with the experimental ones. With regards to these initiation processes, a spall detachment mechanism is proposed considering the interaction of microcracks.     

Effect of contact configuration on the durability and friction coefficient of pressure‐sprayed MoS2 coatings under fretting conditions

Fretting wear is often found at the contact surfaces of a tight assembly where small‐amplitude oscillatory movement occurs, which can be the concealed origin of some enormous accidents. Employment of solid lubrication coatings, as one of effective measurements to palliate the fretting damage, has been widely acknowledged. The present work studied the fretting behaviour of a molybdenum disulphide coating on SUS 316 stainless steel substrate by a relatively cheap and easy‐to‐use process: pressure spraying. Two contact configurations (cylinder‐on‐flat and ball‐on‐flat) were used in the tests with different displacement amplitudes (from 5 to 75 µm) and normal loads (from 100 to 400 N for ball‐on‐flat and from 400 to 1000 N for cylinder‐on‐flat). The results showed that large displacement amplitude is adverse to friction coefficient and coating lifetime and that under a critical contact pressure, coating endurance is improved contact pressure increases. Contact configuration influences friction coefficient by changing contact area and distribution of contact pressure. One master curve of average dissipated energy per cycle in initial stable stage was obtained for two contact configurations, which can be employed to approximately predict coating lifetime. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fretting cracking behaviour on pre-stressed aluminium alloy specimens

A new testing rig has been developed which enables fretting tests on pre-stressed specimens to be carried out. Three aluminium alloys, Al-Li 2091, Al-Cu 2024 and Al-Zn 7075, were used in the tests. The imposed amplitude D ranged from ± 10 to ± 75 μm and normal load F_n from 500 to 1000 N. The static external stress σ_S was set as σ_D/10, σ_D/2 and σ_D (σ_D is the fatigue limit). The tests were carried out with a frequency of 1 or 5 Hz up to 10⁶ cycles. In this paper, analysis of fretting behaviour has been carried out using the fretting map concept. The effect of the axial load (pre-stress) on fretting cracking is emphasized.     

A test method to investigate the tribological behaviour of friction materials under ultrasonic fretting conditions

To investigate and understand the tribological behaviour of high-frequency tribosystems such as ultrasonic motors, a specific test method is necessary. This work reports on the construction of a test machine to evaluate the friction and wear behaviour of friction materials under ultrasonic fretting conditions, as well as giving some representative experimental results. Hard/soft (steel/polymer) and hard/hard (steel/alumina, alumina/alumina) couples were studied with respect to their application as contact materials in ultrasonic motors. Investigation of friction behaviour at high frequencies showed that friction-induced vibrations lead to friction forces of much lower magnitude than predicted by quasistationary friction coefficients obtained for sliding friction. The wear behaviour is characterised by abrasive, adhesive, fatigue and oxidative mechanisms, depending on the mating materials. For polymeric friction materials, the influence of fibre reinforcement and the incorporation of PTFE as a solid lubricant were evaluated. The presence of PTFE resulted in a strong improvement of both friction and wear behaviour.     

The influence of water vapour in air on the friction behaviour of pure metals during fretting

An investigation was conducted to determine the effect of water vapour content in air on the frictional behaviour during fretting of pure metals: iron, aluminium, copper, silver, chromium, titanium and nickel. The fretting experiments were carried out under various humidity levels, ranging from dry air to 50% relative humidity at 23°C. During the experiment the frictional force between fretting surfaces was measured. Pure metals, except iron, were found to have a maximum value of the coefficient of friction during the steady-fretting stage (μ_s) at a specific humidity (RH_max). Iron showed a rapid decrease in μ_s with increasing humidity at RH_max. Each pure metal also exhibited maximum fretting wear at RH_max. The value of μ_s at RH_max for each metal was strongly related to the heat of formation of the lower metal oxide, indicating that the adhesive contact area was larger at RH_max for the fretting of metals with less chemical activity. At high humidity levels water vapour generally reduced the coefficient of friction, μ_s.     

Design effects on the fretting wear behaviour of ball bearings

A change in design of a ball bearing is described based on the results of numerical and experimental analysis to reduce fretting wear. Increasing the radii of curvature of the inner and outer races by a small amount reduces the product of the relative slip δ and the tangential traction τ at the contact region, both of which are caused by Heathcote slip. This results in the consequent reduction in fretting wear because there is a good correlation between the amount of fretting wear and τδ. This prediction is confirmed experimentally by increasing the groove radius of the inner race from 4.02 to 4.21 mm for a ball of radius 3.97 mm.     

Experimental investigation of contact behaviour in grinding

The nature of the wheel and workpiece contact in grinding has a strong effect on the temperature, force and surface integrity as well as wheel wear in grinding. An applied power source method was used to measure the real contact length. The interpretation of contact length measurements is discussed. Experimental measurements of contact length in grinding show that the contact length is much larger than the geometrical contact length. This difference is most significant in fine grinding and in the sparkout stage of plunge grinding. The difference also increases when the table speed is increased. The contact length in wet grinding is longer than the contact length in dry grinding. The contact length when grinding cast iron is shorter than the contact length when grinding mild steel. It is found that grinding geometry, grinding force and the roughness of the grinding wheel have independent effects on the contact length. The newly developed contact length model by the authors describes these effects quantitatively. These results also show the importance of the roughness factor, R_r, for analysis of the contact behaviour in grinding processes.     

Effects of lubricant-additives on the kinetics and mechanisms of ZDDP adsorption on steel surfaces

The influence of temperature, co-additive type, and basestock on the rates of adsorption of zinc di-isopropyldithiophosphate on SKF-3 steel have been measured. Adsorption behaviour is more complex than previously observed on the similar EN-31 steel and Langmuir kinetics may apply only in the early stages of the process. All co-additives cause reductions in ZDDP adsorption as also does the change from hydrocarbon to diester basestock. Reasons for the observed behaviour are discussed.     

Tribological properties of nickel-base nanocrystalline coatings sputter-deposited on austenitic stainless steel

500 nm-thick films are deposited on austenitic stainless steel by neutral (Ar⁺) or reactive (N⁺) ion beam sputtering of Ni or NiTi targets, with (or without) high energy 160 keV-Ar⁺ ion beam assistance. Most of the time the coatings are nanocrystalline and induce a large (excellent in some conditions) increase of the wear resistance. Only Ar⁺ ion beam sputtering of a NiTi target gives an amorphous deposit which does not improve the substrate tribological properties. The hardness and wear resistance of ion beam assisted films are larger than those obtained with non-ion beam assisted coatings. The presence of a hard TiN phase inside a ductile Ni phase, of grains with preferential orientation beneficial to slip, as well as film densification are the main factors which increase the wear resistance. The best results are obtained when the structure is composed of two phases, Ni and TiN. The TiN phase strengthens the already good tribological Ni properties and the Ni ductility induces mechanical accommodation during the friction process.     

Fine-particle slurry wear resistance of selected tungsten carbide thermal spray coatings

The surface degradation of tungsten carbide based thermal spray coatings when exposed to fine-particle slurry abrasion has been investigated. The coatings that were studied contain binder-phase constituents consisting of either nickel or cobalt. The coatings were deposited onto test cylinders using a detonation gun device. After applying approximately 0.15 mm thickness of thermal spray coating, the coatings were ground, then diamond polished to achieve surface roughnesses of 0.03 μm Ra or less. The coatings were exposed to a three-body abrasive wear test involving zirconia particles (less than 3 μm diameter) in a water-based slurry. Results show that preferential binder wear plays a significant role in the wear of these tungsten carbide coatings by fine abrasives. In the comparison presented here, the coating containing nickel-based binder with a dense packing of primary carbides was superior in terms of retaining its surface finish upon exposure to abrasion. The coating containing a cobalt binder showed severe surface degradation.     

Influence of surface roughness on friction and scuffing behaviour of cast iron under sparse lubrication

Friction and scuffing behaviour of grey cast iron as influenced by the surface roughness under sparse lubrication conditions is studied. The studies are carried out on a three-shoe-on-disc machine under the conditions of parallel sliding. The experiments were conducted at three oil supply rates of 0.10, 0.22 and 0.36 μg/cm² per contact obtained through a mist oiling system and with specimens of cast iron shoes of different roughness values, Ra, between 0.04 and 2.0 μm against a 0.55% C steel disc. In a step load procedure, the friction torque at the end of each load step and the scuffing load are the major parameters measured. Results of friction and scuffing behaviour as a function of roughness and oil supply rates have been discussed.     

Effects of lubricants on friction and wear of Ti(CN)/1045 steel sliding pairs

The friction and wear properties of Ti(CN)/1045 steel rubbing pairs were investigated under dry and lubricated conditions by using a pin-on-disk tribometer. The selected speed range was 0.8 to 3.2 m/s and the load range was 58.8 to 235.2 N. Distilled water and a mineral oil (no additives) were used for lubrication, respectively. The wear of Ti(CN) ceramic under dry conditions was caused mainly by adhesion between the rubbing surfaces and the microfracture of Ti(CN). With the load and speed increasing, the adhesion and diffusion between rubbing surfaces increased and resulted in wear increasement of Ti(CN). Because of the brittleness of ceramics, the microfracture wear of Ti(CN) increased rapidly when the load was raised to some high values. The lubricating and cooling effects of the lubricants could improve the frict on and wear. Compared with water, oil was much better in improving the tribological properties. The analysis results obtained from XPS and AES examinations showed that ferrous oxide was produced on the wear scars, which could reduce the adhesion between the rubbing surfaces to some extent. The lubricating effects of the oil under boundary lubrication conditions were attributed to the formation of carbon films on the rubbing surfaces.     

Triboelectrochemical investigation of the friction and wear behaviour of TiN coatings in a neutral solution

Triboelectrochemical techniques use an electrochemical set-up (mainly of the three-electrode type) for controlling the potential of the surface of a conducting material subjected to rubbing in a tribometer. In this way it is possible to carry out friction and wear tests in electrolytic solutions under well-defined chemical conditions determined by the applied electrode potential. In addition, triboelectrochemical techniques offer the possibility of following in-situ and in real time the kinetics of electrochemical oxidation reactions (corrosion) by the simple measure of an electrical current. In the present study triboelectrochemical experiments were carried out on sputter deposited TiN coatings sliding against alumina in a borate solution (pH 8.4). The surface of selected worn coatings was characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the topography by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results show that the rate of wear critically depends on the prevailing (electro)chemical conditions which determine the chemical surface state of the TiN coating. The behaviour is attributed to the lubricating properties of surface oxide films having a thickness in the nanometre range.     

Sub-surface damage investigation by high frequency ultrasonic echography on 100Cr6 bearing steel

This paper presents an original ultrasonic technique devoted to the early detection of sub-surface fatigue cracks in 100Cr6 bearing steels. Echographic experiments were carried out during interrupted rolling contact fatigue tests. Crack initiation and crack propagation stages were both investigated. Quantitative measurements of sub-surface crack position, depth and angle with respect to the bearing surface are presented. Experimental results are analysed and discussed in relation to rolling contact fatigue theories. Contrary to what is generally accepted the presented results show that the crack propagation stage could represent an important part of bearing life.     

The effect of slip amplitude and test time on fretting wear in metal-metal contact

A study was conducted to determine the effect of amplitude and test time on surface damage in metal-to-metal contact under lubricated conditions. The test set up consisted of a ball loaded against a flat disc, with an external drive imparting a linear oscillatory motion to the ball on the flat. The materials were steel AISI 52100/AISI 52100, and the lubricant was ISO VG 220. Damage characteristics were defined for amplitudes in the range of 5 to 50 microns and for test times of 10 to 360 min.     

Study on rotational fretting wear of bonded MoS2 solid lubricant coating prepared on medium carbon steel

The rotational fretting wear behaviors of the bonded MoS₂ solid lubricant coating and its substrate steel were comparatively studied under varied angular displacement amplitudes, constant normal load, and rotational speed. Dynamic analysis in combination with microscopic examinations was performed through SEM, EDX, XPS, optical microscope, and surface profilometer. The experimental results showed MoS₂ changed the fretting running regimes of substrate. The friction coefficients of MoS₂ were lower than those of the substrate. For MoS₂, the damage in partial slip regime was very slight. The damage mechanism of the coating in slip regime was main abrasive wear, delamination, and tribo-oxidation.