Study of tribological performance of ECR-CVD diamond-like carbon coatings on steel substrates: Part 1. The effect of processing parameters and operating conditions

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings were prepared on AISI 440C steel substrates at room temperature by electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition (ECR-CVD) process in C₂H₂/Ar plasma. Using the designed Ti/TiN/TiCN/TiC interfacial transition layers, relatively thick DLC coatings (1-2 μm) were successfully prepared on the steel substrates. The friction and wear performance of the DLC coatings was evaluated by ball-on-disk tribometry using a steel counterbody at various normal loads (1-10 N) and sliding speeds (2-15 cm/s). By optimizing the deposition parameters such as negative bias voltage, DLC coatings with hardness up to 30 GPa and friction coefficients lower than 0.15 against the 100Cr6 steel ball could be obtained. The friction coefficient was maintained for 100,000 cycles (∼2.2 km) of dry sliding in ambient environments. In addition, the specific wear rates of the coatings were found to be extremely low (∼10⁻⁸ mm³/Nm); at the same time, the ball wear rates were one order of magnitude lower. The influences of the processing parameters and the sliding conditions were determined, and the frictional behavior of the coatings was discussed. It has been found that higher normal loads or sliding speeds reduced the wear rates of the coatings. Therefore, it is feasible to prepare hard and highly adherent DLC coatings with low friction coefficient and low wear rate on engineering steel substrates by the ECR-CVD process. The excellent tribological performance of DLC coatings enables their industrial applications as wear-resistant solid lubricants on sliding parts.     

Tribological behavior and topography of friction surfaces of diamond-like coatings in contact with steel,silicon nitride,and quartz glass

The paper presents the study results of the tribological behavior and surface topography formed at friction of diamond-like coatings against indenters made of silicon nitride, quartz glass, and steel. It is shown that the tribological behavior depends on the nature and hardness of the counterbody material whose wear causes changes in the surface topography of the diamond-like coating at the nanometer level. At friction of the diamond-like coating against the silicon nitride indenter surface asperities are deformed plastically and the deformation rate is governed by the coating structure.     

Study of tribological performance of ECR-CVD diamond-like carbon coatings on steel substrates: Part 2. The analysis of wear mechanism

This paper describes the tribological performance of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings deposited on AISI 440C steel substrates by electron cyclotron resonance chemical vapor deposition (ECR-CVD) process. A variety of analytic techniques were used to characterize the coatings, such as Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nano-indentation. The sliding wear and friction experiments were carried out by the conventional ball-on-disk tribometry against 100Cr6 steel counterbody at various normal loads (1-10 N) and sliding speeds (2-15 cm/s). All the wear tests were conducted under dry sliding condition in ambient air for a total rotation cycle of 1 × 10⁵ (sliding distance ∼2.2 km). Surfaces of the coatings and the steel balls were examined before and after the sliding wear tests. The DLC coatings that had been tested all showed relatively low values of friction coefficient, in the range of 0.1-0.2 at a steady-state stage, and low specific wear rates (on the order of 10⁻⁸ mm³/Nm). It was found that higher normal loads or sliding speeds reduced the wear rates of the coatings. Plastic deformation became more evident on the coating surface during the sliding wear test at higher contact stresses. The friction-induced transformation of the coating surface into a graphite-like phase was revealed by micro-Raman analysis, and the flash temperature of the contact asperities was estimated. It was suggested that the structural transformation taking place within the wear tracks was mainly due to the formation of compact wear debris layer rather than the frictional heating effect. On the other hand, an adherent transfer layer (tribolayer) was formed on the counterface, which was closely related to the steady-state friction during sliding and the wear mechanisms. Fundamental knowledge combined with the present tribological study led to the conclusion that adhesive wear along with abrasion was probably the dominant wear mechanism for the DLC/steel sliding systems. Additionally, fatigue processes might also be involved in the wear of the coatings.     

The lubricated wear of ceramics : Part II: The wear and friction of silicon nitride and steel in the presence of mineral oil or an ester based lubricant

The friction and wear characteristics of combinations of silicon nitride, alumina and AISI 52100 steel in the presence of mineral oil containing anti-wear, dispersant and detergent additives have been investigated in a tri-pin-on-disc machine. The tests were carried out at a nominal temperature of 100°C for a range of sliding speeds, loads and total sliding distances. In Part II of this two-part paper a comparison will be made between the tribological performance of these sliding pairs of materials in mineral oil and ester based lubricant environments. The results of the investigation showed that the alumina performed relatively poorly under these test conditions, whereas silicon nitride showed good potential as an improved wear resisting material compared with 52100 steel. Wear factors of the order of 10⁻¹⁰ mm³/Nm were deduced for the alumina, while values as low as 10⁻¹¹ mm³/Nm were typical of the silicon nitride sliding against 52100 steel discs. The alumina pins wore by a process of brittle fracture at the surface, whereas the silicon nitride pins wore primarily by a tribochemical polishing mechanism. The rate of tribo-chemical wear was found to be proportional to the nominal contact area.     

Effects of Microscale Particles as Antiwear Additives in Water-Based Slurries with Abrasives

Abrasive wear is the dominant cause of tool failure in the process of mining and petroleum/gas drilling. This research investigated the effects of two additives, polystyrene and silicon nitride, on the tribological properties of water-based slurries with silicon dioxide or alumina abrasives. A pin-on-disk configuration was utilized to evaluate the performance of the additives for a steel–steel contact. Experimental results showed that polystyrene particles were able to reduce wear but friction increased simultaneously. On the contrary, silicon nitride particles exhibited excellent performance on both wear resistance and friction reduction. Results in this study indicated that the addition of appropriate additives was able to improve the tribological properties of slurries with abrasives.     

Friction and wear of titanium alloys sliding against metal, polymer, and ceramic counterfaces

Recent advances in lower-cost processing of titanium, coupled with its potential use as a light weight material in engines and brakes has renewed interest in the tribological behavior of titanium alloys. To help establish a baseline for further studies on the tribology of titanium against various classes of counterface materials, pin-on-disk sliding friction and wear experiments were conducted on two different titanium alloys (Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo). Disks of these alloys were slid against fixed bearing balls composed of 440C stainless steel, silicon nitride, alumina, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) at two speeds: 0.3 and 1.0 m/s. The friction coefficient and wear rate were lower at the higher sliding speed. Ceramic sliders suffered unexpectedly higher wear than the steel slider. The wear rates, ranked from the highest to the lowest, were alumina, silicon nitride, and steel, respectively. This trend is inversely related to their hardness, but corresponds to their relative fracture toughness. Comparative tests on a Type 304 stainless steel disk supported the fracture toughness dependency. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed the tendency of Ti alloys to transfer material to their counterfaces and suggested possible tribochemical reactions between the ceramic sliders and Ti alloy disks. These reaction products, which adhere to the ceramic sliders, may degrade the mechanical properties of the contact areas and result in high wear. The tribochemical reactions along with the fracture toughness dependency helped explain the high wear on the ceramic sliders.     

Tribological behavior of fast-carbonized PAN/phenolic-based carbon/carbon composite and method for improving same

One purpose of the present study is to evaluate the tribological behavior of a fast-carbonized (1000 °C/min) C/C composite. One other purpose of the study is to enhance the tribological performance of the composite by applying a post-treatment comprising re-impregnation of a carbonaceous additive-doped liquid precursor. The results indicate that average coefficient of friction (COF) values of non-post-treated composites prepared with three different carbonization rates (1, 100 and 1000 °C/min) are similar (0.40-0.45). The average wear rate of samples carbonized at 1000 °C/min is about twice as large as samples carbonized at 1 and 100 °C/min. Great majority of the samples demonstrate an increase in density and a decrease in porosity after the post-treatment. Pitch-group samples generally have larger changes in density and porosity than furan-group samples. After the post-treatment, all samples demonstrate decreases in both COF and specific wear rate coefficient. Pitch-group samples generally exhibit lower wear rate than furan-group samples. Samples post-treated with pitch/carbon black and pitch/mesophase pitch demonstrate the lowest wear rates among all samples tested (only half that of untreated samples carbonized at 1 °C/min), while still maintaining relatively high COF values (close to 0.4). These results indicate that an appropriate post-treatment, especially a pitch treatment, may dramatically improve the tribological performance of fast-carbonized C/C composite.     

Effects of carbon content on the high temperature friction and wear of chromium carbonitride coatings

Chromium nitride-based coatings are often used in application at high temperature. They possess high wear and oxidation resistance; however, the friction coefficient is typically very high. Therefore, we doped CrN coatings by carbon with the aim to improve tribological properties at elevated temperature, particularly to lower the friction. CrCN coatings were prepared by cathode arc evaporation technology using constant N₂ flow and variable C₂H₂ flow. The coatings with a thickness of 3-4 μm were deposited on hardened steel substrates and high-temperature resistant alloy. The carbon content varied from 0 at.% (i.e. CrN) up to 31 at.%. The standard coating characterization included the nano-hardness, adhesion, chemical composition and structure (including hot X-ray diffraction). Wear testing was done using a high temperature tribometer (pin-on-disc); the maximum testing temperature was 700 °C. The coatings with carbon content 12-31 at.% showed almost identical tribological behaviour up to 700 °C.     

Effect of crosslinking on tribological behavior of tung oil-based polymers

In this study, the tribological properties of tung oil-based polymers synthesized by the cationic copolymerization of tung oil with divinylbenzene and styrene are evaluated as a function of crosslinking density. Tribological measurements were performed using a ball-on-flat reciprocating microtribometer on samples with three crosslinking densities of 20%, 30% and 40% by weight of the crosslinking agent. Friction and wear characteristics during dry sliding were evaluated using a spherical (1.2 mm radius) silicon nitride probe as well as a conical (100 μm radius, 90° cone angle) diamond probe. Microscale friction behavior was evaluated from single strokes at ramped normal loads, whereas wear experiments were evaluated from 100 to 500 reciprocating cycles at fixed normal loads. Elastic modulus and hardness information were evaluated using nanoindentation tests. Scanning electron microscopy of wear tracks was used to elucidate deformation mechanisms in the various samples. All samples showed friction coefficients ranging from 0.06 to 0.49. It was found that a higher crosslinking density resulted in lower abrasive wear due to increased hardness. These results provide some insight into the friction and wear behavior of tung oil-based polymers.     

Corrosion-wear behaviour of PVD Cr/CrN multilayer coatings for gear applications

At present, one of the most important problems in automobile engines and transmission components is due to tribological processes (friction and wear) that in many cases come accompanied by corrosion processes due to the environmental conditions to which these materials are exposed during their lifetime. Both mechanisms can be minimized by means of the development and the application of adequate coatings that combine low friction with a high corrosion and wear resistance.The new tendencies in industrial PVD coatings to improve their properties are focused in the development of new multilayer and nanostructured coatings. These structures allow in a relatively simple way enhancing their tribological properties and the corrosion resistance that can not be reached by means of the traditional monolayer coatings. The background of this type of coatings consists of the stacking up of several layers with good individual tribological and mechanical properties, but every individual layer has a thickness that can be from hundreds of nanometres down to only 5-10 nm. The properties of these nanostructured coatings depend strongly on the thickness modulation of every individual layer.Concerning PVD coatings, the chrome nitride coatings have demonstrated to possess excellent wear resistance properties. In this work, multilayer Cr/CrN coatings with different individual layer thickness have been deposited on substrates of steel F1272 and silicon. The deposition has been carried out by means of the cathodic arc method alternating an atmosphere of pure Ar with a reactive mixture of N₂/Ar. The multilayers obtained have been analyzed by means of Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GD-OES) and in some cases by means of FE-SEM obtaining bilayer (Cr/CrN) periods of the order of 220 and 45 nm. The coating characterization has been complemented with hardness and composition measurements as well as by the performance of several wear and corrosion-wear tests.     

Tribological behaviour and wear mechanism of MoS2–Cr coatings sliding against various counterbody

MoS₂–Cr coatings with different Cr contents have been deposited on high speed steel substrates by closed field unbalanced magnetron (CFUBM) sputtering. The tribological properties of the coatings have been tested against different counterbodies under dry conditions using an oscillating friction and wear tester. The coating microstructures, mechanical properties and wear resistance vary according to the Cr metal-content. MoS₂ tribological properties are improved with a Cr metal dopant in the MoS₂ matrix. The optimum Cr content varies with different counterbodies. Showing especially good tribological properties were MoS₂–Cr8% coating sliding against either AISI 1045 steel or AA 6061 aluminum alloy, and MoS₂–Cr5% coating sliding against bronze. Enhanced tribological behavior included low wear depth on coating, low wear width on counterbody, low friction coefficients and long durability.     

Friction and wear behaviour of hard and superhard coatings at cryogenic temperatures

The work presents data on friction and wear behaviour of pin-on-disc pairs with superhard diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings and hard coatings of zirconium nitride (ZrN) and titanium nitride (TiN) in liquid nitrogen with loads of 2.5 and 10 N and sliding speed of 0.06 m/s. It is shown that at cryogenic temperatures the friction coefficients of pairs of two types of DLC coatings obtained by vacuum-arc deposition of filtered high-speed carbon plasma fluxes depend to a great deal on the mechanical properties of the coatings defined by predominant sp² or sp³ hybridization of valence electrons. A friction coefficient of 0.76 was observed for friction pairs of superhard (90 GPa) DLC coatings having properties similar to those of diamond. For “softer” DLC coatings of 40 GPa and properties similar to those of graphite the friction coefficient shows lower values (0.24–0.48) dependent on normal load and counterbody material. The DLC coatings obtained by the filtered arc technology exhibit good wear resistance and have strong adhesion to the substrate under friction in liquid nitrogen. With a normal load of 10 N under cryogenic temperature a low wear rate (of the order of 7.2×10⁻⁴ nm/cycle) was found for superhard DLC coatings. The friction coefficient of pairs with hard ZrN and superhard DLC coatings on steel discs was revealed to be linearly dependent on the counterbody material hardness between 20 and 100 GPa. The hardness of the pin was varied by means of depositing TiN or DLC coatings and also by using high-hardness compounds (boron nitride and synthetic diamond). Proceeding this way can be promising since it offers the possibility of creating low-temperature junctions of required friction properties.     

Study of wear resistance of thermal-diffusion boron nitride coatings on titanium

The wear resistance of commercially pure titanium VT1-0 covered with boron nitride coatings in pair with steel U8 is studied. It is found that the boron nitride coatings deposited from amorphous boron by thermal-diffusion saturation in molecular nitrogen at temperatures of 800?C850°C using the noncontact method improve the wear resistance of titanium during boundary sliding friction. Their characteristics are compared with those of boride coatings on titanium deposited by the same method. It is shown that the high-gradient strengthened layers formed during contact thermal-diffusion boronitriding within the 900?C950°C temperature range affect adversely the tribological performance of the boron nitride coating-steel pair.     

Tribological Behavior of TiAlN,AlTiN, and AlCrN Coatings at Boundary Lubricating Condition

In this study, ~?3.5 µm thick multilayer titanium alumina nitride (TiAlN), alumina titanium nitride (AlTiN), and alumina chromium nitride (AlCrN) coatings were deposited on the H13 steel surface by cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (CAPVD) method. The tribological performance of the coatings was evaluated by a tribometer at boundary lubrication condition. Then, coating surfaces were observed by optical microscope, optical profilometer, and atomic force microscope to evaluate the morphological changes, wear volumes, and tribofilm thickness. Also, scanning electron microscopy (energy dispersive X-ray) and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry analyses were applied to coating surfaces for the tribochemical evolution of the tribofilm. Results showed that AlCrN coating performed the best tribological behavior at boundary lubricated condition, when compared to TiAlN and AlTiN coatings and it can be used as a wear resistant cam tappet coating in internal combustion engines.     

Tribological Behavior of Bronze Composite Coatings Obtained by Plasma Thermal Spraying

Bronze aluminum composite coatings containing different amounts of alumina were fabricated by plasma spray process and their tribological properties were investigated using ball-on-disk (BOD) and rubber wheel (RW) tests at room temperature. Main wear mechanisms in pure bronze coatings during the ball-on-disk friction test were abrasion and intersplat delamination. The addition of alumina in bronze coatings clearly enhances their wear resistance. To explain this behavior, this article proposes an additional wear mechanism in the composite coatings that involves the rupture of the alumina lamellae located just below the wear track leading to a uniform distribution of fine alumina particles enveloped by the bronze matrix, which increase the surface hardness and hinder the wear. The deposition of debris on the wear track of composite coatings provokes an enhancement of the wear resistance as well. Bronze coatings show a low and stable friction coefficient of around μ = 0.3. Nevertheless, coatings with reinforcing particles of alumina show an abrupt transition in the friction coefficient from values around μ = 0.4–0.8, related to the modification of the surface contacts on the wear track due to the formation of a compacted debris layer deposited during the tribological test.     

Friction and wear behavior of Ni-P coated Si3N4 reinforced Al6061 composites

Al6061 matrix composite reinforced with nickel coated silicon nitride particles were manufactured by liquid metallurgy route. Microstructure and tribological properties of both matrix alloy and developed composites have been evaluated. Dry sliding friction and wear tests were carried out using pin on disk type machine over a load range of 20-100 N and sliding velocities of range 0.31-1.57 m/s. Results revealed that, nickel coated silicon nitride particles are uniformly distributed through out the matrix alloy. Al6061-Ni-P-Si₃N₄ composite exhibited lower coefficient of friction and wear rate compared to matrix alloy. The coefficient of friction of both matrix alloy and developed composite decreased with increase in load up to 80 N. Beyond this, with further increase in the load, the coefficient of friction increased slightly. However, with increase in sliding velocity coefficient of friction of both matrix alloy and developed composite increases continuously. Wear rates of both matrix alloy and developed composites increased with increase in both load and sliding velocity. Worn surfaces and wear debris was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for possible wear mechanisms. Energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) techniques were used to identify the oxides formed on the worn surfaces and wear debris.     

Friction and wear properties of Ni–Cr–W–Al–Ti–MoS2 at elevated temperatures and self-consumption phenomena

The composites of Ni–Cr–W–Al–Ti–MoS₂ with different adding amount of molybdenum disulfide (6–20 wt.%) were prepared by powder metallurgy (P/M) method. Their mechanical properties and tribological properties from room temperature to 600 °C were tested by a pin-on-disk tribometer. The effects of amounts of molybdenum disulfide, temperature, load, and speed on the friction and wear properties of composite were discussed. Besides, the tribological properties against different counterface materials, such as alumina, silicon nitride and nickel-iron-sulfide alloys were also investigated. Results indicated that the molybdenum disulfide was decomposed during the hot-press process and the eutectic sulfides of chromium were formed. The hardness and anti-bending strength can be improved by adding 6 wt.% molybdenum disulfide due to reinforcement of molybdenum. The friction coefficients and wear rates of composites decrease with the increase of adding amount of molybdenum disulfide until a critical value of 12 wt.%. The composite with 12% MoS₂ shows the optimum friction and wear properties over the temperature range of RT 600 °C. The friction coefficients of composite with 12% MoS₂ decrease with the increase of temperature, load, and sliding speed, while the wear rates increase with the increasing temperature and are insensitive to the sliding speed and load. The friction coefficients of less than 0.20 at 600 °C and mean wear rates of 10⁻⁵ mm³/N m are obtained when rubbing against alumina due to the lubrication of sulfide films and glaze layer formed on the friction surface at high temperature, while a relatively low wear rate of around 10⁻⁶ mm³/N m presents when rubbing against nickel-iron-sulfide alloys. At high temperature, wear rates of composite containing sulfide are inversely proportional to friction coefficients approximately.     

Study of silane-based antiwear additives: Wear and chemistry

The chemistry and wear performance of a silane-containing additive in combination with conventional commercial engine oil additives such as zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), calcium-type detergent (Ca detergent), and B- and N-containing dispersant were investigated. The tribological behavior of the low-sulfur base stock 100 N blended with the above additives was investigated using a pin-on-disc Plint friction and wear tester at 100 °C. The wear scar width (WSW) of the upper steel pins was determined using an optical microscope. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyze the chemistry and thickness of the thin tribofilm formed on the disc. The morphologies of the wear scars on the lower steel discs were observed using an atomic force microscope (AFM). It was found when the silane additive is mixed with Ca detergent and B- and N-containing dispersant, the antiwear performance of the blend was greatly improved, while the friction coefficient remained almost unchanged. Indeed, the wear performance was comparable to or better than ZDDP on its own, and much better than a commercial oil blend. The silane additive is converted to hydrous SiO₂ by the water in the oil, and this SiO₂ then interacted chemically with the surface and Ca in the detergent under sliding to form a relatively thick tribofilm containing mainly a Ca silicate species. The incorporation of Si and B had little effect on the tribochemistry of ZDDP in the oil blends. When ZDDP and B- and N-containing dispersants were mixed with the silane additive, polyphosphate-type tribofilms, similar to that of ZDDP alone, were formed. However, addition of ZDDP had adverse effects on the wear performance of the silane-based blend.     

Frictional Characteristics of Quasicrystals at High Temperatures

AlCuFe quasicrystal coatings were deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering for study of their friction and wear properties at high temperatures. It has been shown that growth and annealing conditions can be controlled to produce icosahedral quasicrystal or the approximant cubic phase. The comparison of friction and wear properties between quasicrystal and an approximant with nearly the same stoichiometry permits assessment of the unique quasicrystalline structure for tribological applications. The goals of this study are to determine how crystal structure influences tribological properties and to study the general friction and wear behavior of quasicrystals. Tribological properties were evaluated using a pin-on-disk tribometer and crystal structure was characterized using an X-ray diffractometer. The tests specimens were 10 m thick films deposited on a 1 diameter steel disk and a 1/4 diameter steel ball. Data was collected over a range of temperatures from room to 600°C. Friction coefficients and wear rates of quasicrystals and approximants were nearly identical for room temperature tests. The wear process generated Al, Cu, Fe, and oxide debris on the side of the track, but overall wear was mild. The friction coefficient of the icosahedral phase was 25% lower than the cubic phase at 150 thru 450°C. Generally, only moderate differences in the friction and wear properties were observed between the icosahedral quasicrystal phase and the cubic phase.     

Evaluation of erosive wear resistance of TiN coatings by a slurry jet impact test

In this paper, it is proposed to use a new type of solid particle impact test (slurry jet) to swiftly evaluate wear properties of thin, single layered or multilayered coatings. By the slurry jet, 1.2 μm alumina particles were impacted at high velocity perpendicular to thin PVD coatings of TiN deposited on high speed steel substrate materials under various substrate temperatures. Since the coatings have a much higher wear resistance than the substrate material, the wear rate increases significantly to the higher level of the HSS material when the coatings are penetrated. This is utilized in the quantification of the assessment of coating wear. A ranking of wear resistance and correlations to the coating surface hardness measured by nano-indentation tests, and coating morphology and structures are given and discussed. The TiN deposited under the highest substrate temperature proved to have the highest wear resistance although it had a relatively low hardness. The wear rate of the TiN coatings varies with the orientation of grains, that is, the {1 1 1} orientation that dominates for the high temperature deposition shows a higher wear resistance than the {1 0 0} orientation, which corresponds with the cleavage fracture behavior. Thus, it can be recommended as a screening test when evaluating coatings and coated materials.