Antiwear Tribofilm Formation on Steel Surfaces Lubricated With Gear Oil Containing Borate,Phosphorus, and Sulfur Additives

The formation of antiwear tribofilms plays a critical role in the longevity of automotive gears. The focus of this experimental study was on the lubrication efficacy of gear oils with different contents of borate-, phosphorus-, and sulfur-containing additives leading to the formation of protective tribofilms. Experiments were performed with AISI 52100 steel balls sliding against AISI 52100 steel disks in baths of different oils at ambient (～32 °C) and elevated (～100 °C) temperatures under load and speed conditions favoring sliding in the boundary lubrication regime. Friction coefficient responses accompanied by electrical contact voltage measurements provided real-time information about the formation and durability of the antiwear tribofilms. The wear resistance of the tribochemical films was quantified by wear rate data obtained from surface profilometry measurements of wear tracks on the disk specimens and sliding tests performed at ambient temperatures after the formation of the tribofilms during elevated-temperature sliding. Results indicate a strong dependence of tribofilm formation on temperature and type of additives. The slightly lower friction and higher wear resistance obtained at elevated temperatures with blended oils is attributed to the increased chemical reactivity of additives containing borate, phosphorus, and sulfur, leading to the formation of durable tribofilms. Relatively higher wear resistance and faster tribofilm formation were obtained with the borate-enriched gear oil formulations.     

Tribological properties of γ-Y2Si2O7 ceramic against AISI 52100 steel and Si3N4 ceramic counterparts

Reciprocating ball-on-flat dry sliding friction and wear experiments have been conducted on single-phase γ-Y₂Si₂O₇ ceramic flats in contact with AISI 52100 bearing steel and Si₃N₄ ceramic balls at 5–15 N normal loads in an ambient environment. The kinetic friction coefficients of γ-Y₂Si₂O₇ varied in the range over 0.53–0.63 against AISI 52100 steel and between 0.51–0.56 against Si₃N₄ ceramic. We found that wear occurred predominantly during the running-in period and it almost ceased at the steady friction stage. The wear rates of γ-Y₂Si₂O₇ were in the order of 10^?4 mm³/(N m). Besides, wear debris strongly influenced the friction and wear processes. The strong chemical affinity between γ-Y₂Si₂O₇ and AISI 52100 balls led to a thick transfer layer formed on both contact surfaces of the flat and counterpart ball, which changed the direct sliding between the ball and the flat into a shearing within the transfer layer. For the γ-Y₂Si₂O₇/Si₃N₄ pair, a thin silica hydrate lubricant tribofilm presented above the compressed debris entrapped in the worn track and contact ball surface. This transfer layer and the tribofilm separated the sliding couple from direct contact and contributed to the low friction coefficient and wear rate.     

Characteristics of particles generated at the interface between sliding steel surfaces

This paper is an attempt to further clarify and classify the range of wear modes which can occur at the interface between steel surfaces subjected to sliding motion, a variety of speeds and loads, with and without lubrication. Previous researchers have been able, from examination of the wearing surfaces, to identify a number of distinct wear modes and to classify them according to operating conditions. The present paper shows that it is possible to arrive at a comparable classification of wear modes based on examination of the wear debris rather than the worn surfaces. Consequently, it is possible to determine the wear modes in a machine from observation of the debris in the lubricant without requiring access to the wear surfaces themselves.The wear particles were generated by rotating a cylindrical sleeve of AISI 52100 steel in contact with three types of fixed wearing surfaces, crossed AISI 52100 steel cylinders, fixed spherical balls of AISI 52100 and AISI 1018 steel and a flat plate of AISI 1018 steel. Surface speeds ranged from 0.19 to 5.0 m/s and the load from 1 to 80 kg. These particles were collected and examined in both an optical and a scanning electron microscope. X-ray diffraction studies of selected particle types were also made.These studies revealed six different wear regimes which depended on the test parameters. Each regime produced wear particles of characteristic morphology and composition. All of the types of particles studied here have been found in the lubricating oil of field operating machines.     

Sliding friction and wear performance of Ti6Al4V in the presence of surface-capped copper nanoclusters lubricant

The friction and wear properties of Ti₆Al₄V sliding against AISI52100 steel ball under different lubricative media of surface-capped copper nanoclusters lubricant—Cu nanoparticles capped with O,O′-di-n-octyldithiophosphate (Cu-DTP), rapeseed oil and rapeseed oil containing 1 wt% Cu-DTP was evaluated using an Optimol SRV oscillating friction and wear tester. The wear mechanism was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectrosmeter (XPS). Results indicate that Cu-DTP can act as the best lubricant for Ti₆Al₄V as compared with rapeseed oil and rapeseed oil containing 1 wt% Cu-DTP. The applied load and sliding frequency obviously affected the friction and wear behavior of Ti₆Al₄V under Cu-DTP lubricating. The frictional experiment of the Ti₆Al₄V sliding against AISI52100 cannot continue under the lubricating condition of rapeseed oil or rapeseed oil containing 1 wt% Cu-DTP when the applied load are over 100 N. Surprisingly, the frictional experiment of Ti₆Al₄V sliding against AISI52100 steel can continue at the applied load of 450 N under Cu-DTP lubricating. The tribochemical reaction film containing S and P is responsible for the good wear resistance and friction reduction of Ti₆Al₄V under Cu-DTP at the low applied load. However, a conjunct effect of Cu nanoparticle deposited film and tribochemical reaction film containing S and P contributes to the good tribological properties of Ti₆Al₄V under Cu-DTP at the high-applied load.     

Influence of temperature on the fretting response between AISI 301 stainless steel and AISI 52100 steel

Fretting of AISI 301 stainless steel sheet in contact with AISI 52100 steel from 20 °C to 550 °C in air and argon has been studied. Transitions in the mechanical properties of 301SS and oxidative behavior of this pair have been identified as a function of temperature. Strength and ductility of 301SS is reduced from 20 °C to 250 °C, increasing susceptibility to fretting damage. Steady state friction decreases as temperature increases, reducing cyclic stresses. Wear resistance increases in this temperature range, increasing fatigue damage due to the increase in fatigue life associated with increased wear. This study aims to identify the causes of the transitions in behavior and determine the net outcome of the competing effects with regard to fatigue damage.     

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.     

Tribochemical interactions of Si-doped DLC film against steel in sliding contact

This study concerns the effects of tribochemical interactions at the interface of Si-DLC (silicon-doped diamond-like carbon) film and steel ball in sliding contact on tribological properties of the film. The Si-DLC film was over-coated on pure DLC coating by radio frequency plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (r.f. PACVD) with different Si concentration. Friction tests against steel ball using a reciprocating type tribotester were performed in ambient environment. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were used to study the chemical characteristics and elemental composition of the films and mating balls after tests. Results showed a darkgray film consisting of carbon, oxygen and silicon on the worn steel ball surface with different thickness. On the contrary, such film was not observed on the surface of the ball slid against pure DLC coating. The oxidation of Si-DLC surface and steel ball was also found at particular regions of contact area. This demonstrates that tribochemical interactions occurred at the contact area of Si-DLC and steel ball during sliding to form a tribofilm (so called transfer film) on the ball specimen. While the pure DLC coating exhibited high coefficient of friction (∼0.06), the Si-DLC film showed a significant lower coefficient of friction (∼0.022) with the presence of tribofilm on mating ball surface. However, the Si-DLC film possesses a very high wear rate in comparison with the pure DLC. It was found that the tribochemical interactions strongly affected tribological properties of the Si-DLC film in sliding against steel.     

Comparative study of the tribological properties of various modified mild steels under boundary lubrication condition

AISI1045 steel was modified by laser heat-treatment and conventional heat treatment. The friction and wear behaviors of the steel specimens after various surface modifications sliding against SAE52100 steel under the lubrication of liquid paraffin containing sulphurized olefin were comparatively investigated on an Optimol SRV oscillating friction and wear tester. The worn surface morphologies of the modified steel specimens were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. The elemental compositions and chemical states of some typical elements on the worn surfaces of the modified steel specimens were analyzed with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, respectively. It was found that the laser heat-treated specimen showed the highest hardness and best wear-resistance. The laser heat-treated and conventionally heat treated AISI1045 steel specimens sliding against SAE52100 steel under the lubrication of liquid paraffin containing sulphurized olefin registered smaller friction coefficients than under the lubrication of liquid paraffin alone. This was partly attributed to the increased hardness of the modified specimens. The tribochemical reaction between the steel and the active elements in the additive was involved in the sliding of the modified steel specimens against SAE52100 steel ball under the boundary lubricating condition, with the formation of a surface protective film composed of various tribochemical products. This also contributed to improve the friction and wear behavior of the modified steel specimens. The steel specimens subject to different surface modifications showed differences in the wear mechanisms under the boundary lubricating condition as well. Namely, the tempered steel specimen was mainly characterized by plastic deformation and pitting, the quenched specimen by grooves and delaminating, and the laser heat-treated one by polishing and mild adhesion.     

Fretting damage in thin sheets: Analysis of an experimental configuration

A method for evaluating fretting damage in thin sheets was developed for AISI 301 stainless steel in full hard condition in contact with AISI 52100 steel and cast ANSI A356 aluminum. Samples were subjected to fretting and then were subsequently fatigue tested to determine the impact of the fretting damage on fatigue life. A finite element model of the experimental configuration was used to determine the response for the experimental conditions imposed. The values of Fatemi-Socie critical-plane fatigue damage parameter are shown to correspond to the trends in the observed residual fatigue life for contact with AISI 52100 steel.     

Sliding wear of 100Cr6 in a diesel-lubricated flat–flat contact under realistic loads

The tribological limits of martensitic AISI 52100 steel were determined by the application of a wear-mapping technique based on the statistical design of experiments. Wear measurements were conducted on a pin-on-disc system lubricated with a low-lubricity diesel fuel, with both pin and disc constructed of the same AISI 52100 steel. The test bench was equipped with a displacement transducer and an accurate temperature control of the samples temperature, enabling low wear rates to be measured in situ by the displacement transducer without being perturbed by thermal dilatation. By this method it is possible to measure wear rates on the order of a few nm/h. Moreover, the wear of the disc was evaluated at the end of each test by profilometry. A statistical model was fitted to the obtained results. Combining the findings of several surface characterisation methods, we identified two active wear mechanisms: tribocorrosion at low contact pressures (15 N/mm²) and adhesive wear at higher loads. This conclusion was corroborated by examinations of wear particles carried out by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.     

Sliding wear behaviour of ZrN and (Zr, 12 wt% Hf)N coatings

In the present study, the sliding wear resistances of ZrN and (Zr, 12 wt% Hf)N coatings deposited on a hardened AISI D2 tool steel by arc-physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique were examined by a ball-on-disc wear tester. Alloying of ZrN coating with 12 wt% Hf did not change the hardness significantly, but achieved an improvement on adhesion strength and dry sliding wear resistance against steel (AISI 52100-55HRC) and Al₂O₃ balls.     

Heat generation and heat transfer in cylindrical grinding process -a numerical study

Grinding is the most common abrasive machining process and in many cases the last of the series of machining operations. Compared to other machining processes grinding requires very high-energy input per unit of volume of material removal. The chip removal process consists of rubbing, plowing and metal removal. The frictional resistance encountered between work material, the tool, and the chip tool interface and the resistance to deformation during shearing of chips contributes to a rise in temperature and the cutting zone. The temperature generated is not only quite high but the temperature gradients are also severe. Under abusive grinding conditions, the formation of the heat-affected zone was observed which damages the ground surfaces of the workpieces. The present work aims at optimizing the amount of heat generation and modeling the temperature rise between wheel and work contact zone in a cylindrical grinding process so as to achieve better surface integrity in AISI 3310, AISI 6150, and AISI 52100 steel materials. Taguchi’s methodology a powerful tool in design of experiments for quality is used for optimization process.     

Ionic Liquids as Lubricants of Titanium–Steel Contact. Part 2: Friction, Wear and Surface Interactions at High Temperature

The tribological behaviour and surface interactions of titanium sliding against AISI 52100 steel have been studied at 200 and 300 °C in the presence of two commercial imidazolium room temperature ionic liquid (ILs): 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (L108) and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (LP106). L108 presents the higher thermal stability but gives higher friction coefficients and wear rates than LP106, with long running-in periods and high friction values, both at 200 and 300 °C. Friction and wear rates for LP106 are lower and decrease as the temperature increases from 25 to 200 °C. At 200 °C, LP106 shows a constant friction coefficient, without running-in, produces a mild wear on titanium and no surface damage on steel. LP106 fails at 300 °C, close to its degradation temperature, due to tribochemical decomposition through partial dissociation of the hexafluorophosphate anion, with formation of a phosphorus-rich layer on the steel ball, while the titanium wear track surface is heterogeneous, showing regions with the presence of fluoride and others with the presence of phosphate. When the steel ball is substituted for a ruby sphere under the same conditions at 300 °C, a low friction coefficient and mild wear is observed, due to the higher stability of the LP106 lubricant at the ruby–titanium interface. The friction coefficients, wear mechanisms and surface interactions have been studied by means of friction-distance records, SEM, EDX and XPS.     

Contact size effect on fretting wear behaviour: application to an AISI 52100/AISI 52100 interface

Fretting situations are becoming increasingly important for industrial applications. Fretting wear is defined as a small oscillatory displacement between two contacting bodies. The interface is damaged by debris generation and its ejection from the contact area. In this work, investigations on AISI 52100 steel self‐mated contacts with a ball on flat configuration under dry conditions have been carried out. Fretting tests at a constant maximum Hertzian pressure of 1.1 GPa for different ball diameters have been performed to cover a huge range of contact sizes. A specific experimental procedure is considered to discriminate between the relative impact of the sliding amplitude and the contact size effect. It is shown that a single parameter cannot capture the total interface behaviour. Indeed, an asymptotic decrease in the friction coefficient and wear rate versus the contact size is observed. The increase in the contact area accentuates the implication of third body in the interface. The larger the contact size, the more difficult the debris ejection, the higher the third‐body accommodation, and the lower the coefficient of friction and wear rates. A simple power function is introduced to formalise friction and wear behaviours. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Steel machining chips as reinforcements to improve sliding wear resistance of metal alloys: Study of a model Zn-based alloy system

Two new steel-reinforced, metal-matrix composites (MMCs), Kirksite+1080 and Kirksite+M2 are developed by adding 25 wt% of AISI 1080/AISI M2 steel machining chips to a zinc-based alloy, Kirksite (4% Al and 3% Cu). The sliding wear resistance of the Zn alloy and the two MMCs, against AISI 52100 steel, is determined under increasing normal load (1–10 N) and temperature (25–150 °C), using a pin-on-disc configuration. The MMCs are found to exhibit superior wear performance under all test conditions. At room temperature, a maximum wear reduction in excess of 70% is obtained for the composites relative to the Zn-alloy at the highest load of 10 N. This reduction is as much as 86% at 150 °C and 1 N for the Kirksite+M2. The wear-reducing ability of the steel reinforcements is generally greater at the more severe contact conditions. The stability of the MMC matrices and recommended limits to the MMC operating temperatures are established using deformation measurements made via dynamic mechanical analysis. The principal wear mechanisms are analysed based on the sliding wear measurements, complemented by optical microscopy and SEM observations, and EDX microanalysis. The results show that the steel chip reinforcements are effective in improving the wear resistance of Zn alloys under severe conditions. Implications for use of low-cost machining chips as reinforcements to create MMCs for improved wear performance, and for recycling/reuse of these chips in advanced structural material systems are discussed.     

In situ Investigation of the Growth of a Tribofilm Consisting of NaYF4 Fluorescent Nanoparticles

Tribofilms play a vital role in protecting lubricated surfaces in mechanical systems in motion. To date, understanding tribofilms has been mostly based on ex situ analysis. This research investigates the kinetics of a tribofilm formed on a pair of bearing steels (E52100). Strategically selected illuminative nanoparticles of NaYF₄ were added to a base oil in order to enable their tracking. Electrical conductivity was monitored during sliding that was found to be linked to the state of the interface and the tribofilm. Further characterization identified tribochemical reaction products of Y₂O₃ that exhibited superior tribological performance. In comparison with mineral oil as the base lubricant, the addition of NaYF₄ resulted in a reduction in wear of 82%. This work discovered three stages in tribofilm formation: running in, reactive, and growth. Interestingly, the formation of a tribofilm was dominated more by frictional force than applied load. This is significant because we can now use alternative strategies to generate quality tribofilms.     

Dry sliding wear behaviour of plasma electrolytic oxidation coated AZ91 cast magnesium alloy

A cast AZ91 magnesium alloy was plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coated using a pulsed unipolar power source in a silicate based electrolyte. Constant processing conditions for two different durations were chosen to obtain coatings of 10 and 20 μm thickness. The dry sliding wear studies performed on this alloy with and without PEO coatings against an AISI 52100 steel ball counterpart showed that the PEO coating improved the wear resistance. The thickness of the PEO coating was found to be highly influential in imparting the wear resistance to this alloy, especially in conditions involving higher contact stresses.     

Ionic Liquids as Lubricants of Titanium–Steel Contact

The friction and wear behavior of grade 3 titanium have been studied against AISI 52100 steel at room temperature and at 100 °C, in the presence of six ionic liquid (IL) lubricants, four imidazolium ILs, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (L102), 1-octyl,-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (L108), 1-hexyl, 3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (L-P106) and 1-benzyl,3-methylimidazolium chloride (ClB), and two quaternary ammonium salts, the chloride derivative AMMOENG™ 101 (AM-101) and the dihydrogenphosphate AMMOENG™ 112 (AM-112), and compared with that of a mineral base oil. At room temperature, all ILs, except L102, give similar mean friction values, below 0.20, with a 60% reduction with respect to the mineral oil. All ILs, except L102, also reduce titanium wear rates. The poor performance of the short alkyl chain tetrafluoroborate L102 is due to tribocorrosion. The best antiwear performance at room temperature is found for the imidazolium chloride (ClB), although corrosion of the AISI 52100 steel ball is observed. At 100 °C, L-P106 maintains the room temperature friction values and shows a 80% wear rate reduction with respect to room temperature. L-108 fails at 100 °C after a sliding distance of 200 m due to decomposition and tribocorrosion. The friction and wear mechanisms and surface interactions are discussed from friction–sliding distance curves, SEM, EDS and XPS analysis, and XRD data.     

A Novel Method for Quantitative Determination of Ultra-low Wear Rates of Materials,Part I: On Steels

A novel method for the quantitative determination of the wear of materials at very low wear rates is introduced here. The main concept involves implanting gold as a trace marker into the tested materials, and measuring the gold concentration and depth profile before and after the wear tests by Rutherford backscattering (RBS). The amount of gold loss is related to the material loss under the tested conditions. The background concentration of gold in AISI 1095 and 52100 steels has been determined by neutron activation analysis (NAA; ~3 and 33 wt. ppb, respectively). Several fluences (1 × 10¹⁵–1 × 10¹⁶ atoms/cm²) of gold were implanted into AISI 52100 steel samples in order to evaluate the changes in the mechanical and tribological properties induced by implantation. The new method shows the relative effectiveness for wear prevention of the different tested lubricants with and without antiwear additives. Even the thickness of the antiwear film and the amount of zinc (from zinc dialkyldithiophosphates used as antiwear additives) can be measured by this method.     

Influence of sliding frequency on reciprocating wear of mold steel with different microstructures

The wear resistance of a low alloy plastic mold steel has been studied under pin-on-flat reciprocating configuration against AISI 52100 steel pins, under variable sliding frequency. The as-received material (HTO; 33 HRC) was heat treated under variable conditions to obtain different microstructures and hardness (HT1, quenched 880 °C, 58 HRC; HT2, tempered 550 °C, 43.4 HRC; HT3, tempered 300 °C, 52 HRC; HT4, annealed, 26 HRC). Under low sliding frequency (1 Hz), no significant differences in the wear resistance of the different materials are observed. Only at 8 Hz, a relationship between hardness and wear resistance is found. The softer annealed material HT4 shows an increasing wear rate under increasing frequency, while the quenched steel HT1 gives the lowest wear at the highest frequency. Wear mechanisms have been studied from SEM and EDS observations. Only HT4 shows a transition from the abrasive and oxidative wear mechanisms found in all cases to an adhesive wear mechanism under the highest frequency.