Tribological characterisation of hard coatings with and without DLC top layer in fretting tests

The potential of coatings to protect components against wear and to reduce friction has led to a large variety of protective coatings. In order to check the success of coating modifications and to find solutions for different purposes, initial tests with laboratory tribometers are usually done to give information about the performance of a coating. Different Ti‐based coatings (TiN, Ti(C,N), and TiAlN) and NiP were tested in comparison to coatings with an additional diamond‐like carbon (DLC) top coating. Tests were done in laboratory air at room temperature with oscillating sliding (gross slip fretting) with a ball‐on‐disc arrangement against a ceramic ball (Al₂O₃). Special attention was paid to possible effects of moisture (relative humidity). The coefficient of friction was measured on line, and the volumetric wear at the disc was determined after the test from microscopic measurements of the wear scar and additional profiles. The friction and wear behaviour is quite different for the different coatings and depends more or less on the relative humidity. The DLC coating on top of the other coatings reduces friction and wear considerably. In normal and in moist air the coefficient of wear of the DLC top‐layer coating is significantly less than 10⁻⁶ mm³/Nm and the coefficient of friction is below 0.1. In dry air, however, there is a certain tendency to high wear and high friction. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tribological characterization of thin hard coatings by reciprocating sliding tests

Thin hard coatings on metal or ceramic surfaces offer a large spectrum of improvements of the friction and/or wear behaviour of tribosystems. The development of coatings and the tailoring of their properties require test methods providing information about their friction and wear behaviour. A new wear test standard (ASTM) is under development for the evaluation of friction and wear quantities for sliding motions using the reciprocating sliding mode. The applicability of this test method to coated specimens was checked by testing uncoated and coated steel specimens in contact with alumina balls, whereby lower loads were used than in the ASTM proposal for bulk materials. Additionally, the influence of the relative humidity of the surrounding air at room temperature on friction and wear results was examined.     

Microstructure characterization of advanced protective Cr/CrN+a‐C:H/a‐C:H:Cr multilayer coatings on carbon fibre composite (CFC)

Studies of advanced protective chromium‐based coatings on the carbon fibre composite (CFC) were performed. Multidisciplinary examinations were carried out comprising: microstructure transmission electron microscopy (TEM, HREM) studies, micromechanical analysis and wear resistance. Coatings were prepared using a magnetron sputtering technique with application of high‐purity chromium and carbon (graphite) targets deposited on the CFC substrate. Selection of the CFC for surface modification in respect to irregularities on the surface making the CFC surface more smooth was performed. Deposited coatings consisted of two parts. The inner part was responsible for the residual stress compensation and cracking initiation as well as resistance at elevated temperatures occurring namely during surgical tools sterilization process. The outer part was responsible for wear resistance properties and biocompatibility. Experimental studies revealed that irregularities on the substrate surface had a negative influence on the crystallites growth direction. Chromium implanted into the a‐C:H structure reacted with carbon forming the cubic nanocrystal chromium carbides of the Cr₂₃C₆ type. The cracking was initiated at the coating/substrate interface and the energy of brittle cracking was reduced because of the plastic deformation at each Cr interlayer interface. The wear mechanism and cracking process was described in micro‐ and nanoscale by means of transmission electron microscope studies. Examined materials of coated CFC type would find applications in advanced surgical tools.     

Influence of counterbody material on wear of ta-C coatings under fretting conditions at elevated temperatures

The high temperature tribological performance of tetrahedral amorphous carbon coatings has been analyzed at elevated temperatures up to 250 °C in air against three different counterbody materials—steel 100Cr6, α-alumina and silicon nitride. The results show that the counterbody material influences the friction and wear behavior and therefore coating life time strongly. This effect is well known for these coatings at room temperature under dry environmental conditions, equivalent to conditions above 100 °C when water molecules desorb from the surface. However, the sharp difference in tribological performance between silicon nitride on the one hand and alumina and steel on the other hand cannot be understood in this context. Analyzing the friction behavior during the running-in phase, it is evident that only alumina and steel form a stable interface with constant low friction and relatively low wear rates. Silicon nitride forms an unstable interface with fluctuating COF and relatively high wear rates due to its own inherent tendency to tribo-oxidation.     

Tribological behaviour of W‐alloyed carbon‐based coatings in dry and lubricated sliding contact

Carbon‐based coatings with different W contents were deposited by direct current magnetron sputtering in reactive and non‐reactive atmospheres. All deposited coatings have compact morphologies with amorphous (tungsten‐free) or nanocrystalline structures (tungsten‐doped). The latter one was indicated by very broad peaks in X‐ray Diffraction spectra in the position of tungsten carbide suggesting W‐carbide nanoparticles embedded in an amorphous carbon matrix. The hardness increased from 10 to 15 GPa with increasing W content. The coatings were tribological tested at dry and lubricated conditions with increasing temperature in a coating/steel configuration. In dry sliding, the friction coefficient increases with the increase of the temperature reaching values higher than 1.0. The friction is significantly lower in lubricated contact using three different oils: poly‐alpha‐olefin, paraffin and olive oil. The olive oil shows promising lubricating properties at the temperature lower than 70°C; however, at higher temperature, the coatings were quickly worn through. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of Humidity on the Tribological Properties of Carbide-Derived Carbon (CDC) Films on Silicon Carbide

The effect of humidity on the tribological behavior of carbide-derived carbon (CDC) films prepared by high-temperature chlorination of silicon carbide was examined. Pin-on-disk tribological tests indicate that CDC, unlike graphite or glassy carbon, performs better in dry nitrogen (less than 0.05 friction coefficient at 0% humidity) than in humid air. This versatility is explained by the onion-like structure of the nanoporous CDC coating.     

Friction and wear properties of CN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>/SiC in water lubrication

Amorphous carbon nitride coatings (a-CN_x) were deposited on SiC disk by ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD). The tribological behavior of a-CN_x coating sliding against SiC ball in water was investigated and compared with that of SiC/SiC system at room temperature. The influences of testing conditions on friction coefficient and specific wear rate of both kinds of tribopairs were studied. The worn surfaces on disks were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicate that the running-in period of a-CN_x/SiC was shorter than that of SiC/SiC system in water. At a sliding velocity of 120 mm/s, the mean steady-state friction coefficients of SiC/SiC (0.096) was higher than that of a-CN_x/SiC (0.05), while at 160 mm/s, lower friction coefficient (0.01) was obtained for SiC/SiC in water. With an increment of normal load, the mean steady-state friction coefficients after running-in first decreased, reaching a minimum value, and then increased. For self-mated SiC, the specific wear rate of SiC ball was a little higher than that of SiC disk, while for a-CN_x/SiC, the specific wear rate of SiC ball were 10 times smaller than that of a-CN_x coating. Furthermore, the specific wear rate of SiC ball sliding against a-CN_x coating was reduced by a factor up to 100~1000 in comparison to that against SiC in water. The wear mechanism of SiC/SiC system in water is related to micro-fracture of ceramic and instability of tribochemical reaction layer. Conversely, wear mechanism for a-CN_x/SiC is related to formation and transfer of easy-shear friction layer.     

铜基粉末冶金摩擦材料高温摩擦疲劳性能测试

在高温摩擦疲劳试验机上对铜基粉末冶金材料进行了性能测试。发现：(1)在100℃～350℃区间,随温度的升高,摩擦因数在降低;(2)在500℃时,摩擦因数最高,且发生了粘着磨损;(3)在450N,300℃时,磨痕表面出现了球状的石墨颗粒层,这起到了极好的润滑作用,使得300℃时,磨损较低。     

Tribological properties of non‐ferrous coating lubricated with rapeseed oil containing lubricant additives

With the increasing requirements of environmental protection, using lead, hexavalent chromium and other heavy metals will be prohibited in different surface coatings. In this paper, the non‐ferrous CrN coatings and the rapeseed oil were chosen as friction pair and biodegradable lubricant. The tribology properties were investigated using SRV‐IV reciprocating friction wear test. The worn surface of CrN coatings was observed and analysed using scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate that the rapeseed oil containing 1 wt.% MoZn (MoDTC (molybdenum dithiocarbamate) + ZnDTP (zinc dithiophosphate) (1 : 3)) exhibits better friction‐reducing properties than the rapeseed oil containing 1 wt.% PN (an amine salt of an alkoxylphosphate) additives, whereas the rapeseed oil containing 1 wt.% PN additive exhibits better wear resistance properties than the rapeseed oil containing 1 wt.% MoZn additives. This is partly attributed to the tribophysical and tribochemical reactions between the lubricant and the CrN coating sliding surfaces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tribological behaviour of polymeric coatings. Part I. Aramid particle‐reinforced epoxy nanocomposite systems

An epoxy‐based nanocomposite containing a low concentration of nanometric TiO₂ (4 vol. %), graphite powder (7.21 vol. %), and 2–14 vol. % aramid particles was developed as a coating material. The mechanical and tribological performance of the composites was investigated. The epoxy filled only with TiO₂ possessed significantly improved impact strength and flexural properties, whereas the further incorporation of graphite and aramid particles had a deleterious effect on most of the mechanical properties, except the modulus. The tribological behaviour of the composites was tested in sliding and fretting modes. Under sliding conditions, the addition of nanometric TiO₂ alone significantly improved the wear resistance and decreased the coefficient of friction compared to the neat epoxy. The sliding wear and friction behaviour was further enhanced with the incorporation of graphite and aramid particles. Contrary to the sliding wear behaviour, the fretting wear and friction behaviour was worse for the epoxy filled only with TiO₂, but was significantly enhanced by the incorporation of graphite and aramid particles. The optimum aramid particle content for sliding and fretting wear of the epoxy‐based nanocomposite was determined as 10 vol. %.     

基体成分对Fe_3Al基复合材料摩擦学性能的影响

采用热压烧结法制备一种新型Fe3A l基复合材料,讨论基体成分对其摩擦学性能的影响。研究结果表明:本实验中,Fe3A l粉体的最佳球磨时间为60 h;随着A l含量提高,Fe3A l基复合材料的摩擦因数略有降低但耐磨性明显提高,合金元素Cr的加入有效地改善了材料的摩擦学性能,以Fe-28A l作为摩擦材料的基体即可很好地满足性能要求;Cu作为基体中的软相,摩擦因数随游离Cu含量的增加呈上升趋势但摩擦稳定性变差,且耐磨性降低,Cu含量的最佳范围为12%~18%(质量分数),随着石墨含量的增加,材料的摩擦因数和磨损率都下降,但石墨含量过高会导致材料性能恶化,石墨的最佳含量为8%~12%(质量分数)。     

不同转速下弹性环滚动载流摩擦性能和损伤分析

采用内滚道、外滚道和弹性环组成滚动载流摩擦副,通过载流摩擦试验研究了其在不同转速下的载流摩擦学性能和材料损伤。结果表明：随着转速从240 r/min增加到600 r/min,摩擦副稳态运行期间的摩擦力升高,接触电阻下降;摩擦前期材料损伤形式主要以接触表面金属塑性变形为主,摩擦平稳期以材料剥落为主;在相同的初始接触条件下,高转速促进表面疲劳和材料磨损,试验后弹性环磨痕宽度明显变宽,磨损量逐渐增大,表面氧化程度下降,O和Cu原子个数比降低;磨痕宽度增幅相近的条件下,同等转速下的摩擦力增幅小于变速条件下的摩擦力增幅;转速增加引起的摩擦力增大与高转速下弹性环滑滚增加也有关系。     

Vacuum tribological behaviour of self‐lubricating quasicrystalline composite coatings

High‐temperature‐resistant self‐lubricating coatings are needed in space vehicles for components that operate at high temperatures and/or under vacuum. Thick composite lubricant coatings containing quasicrystalline alloys as the hard phase for wear resistance can be deposited by a thermal spray technique. The coatings also contain lubricating materials (silver and BaF₂ CaF2 eutectic) and NiCr as the tough component. This paper describes the vacuum tribological properties of TH103, a coating of this type, with a very good microstructural quality. The coating was deposited by high‐velocity oxygen fuel spraying and tested under vacuum using a pin‐on‐disc tribometer. Different loads, linear speeds, and pin materials were studied. The pin scars and disc wear tracks were characterised using a combination of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectrometry. A minimum mean steady friction coefficient of 0.32 was obtained when employing an X750 Ni superalloy pin in vacuum conditions under 10 N load and 15 cm/s linear speed, showing moderate wear of the disc and low wear of the pin.     

Tribological Behaviour of Polymeric Coatings: II. SCF‐Reinforced PEEK Nanocomposite Systems

This paper focuses on coatings based on poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) applied to metal substrates and their tribological investigation. Short carbon fibres (SCF), graphite, and 300 nm titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc sulphide (ZnS) particles were used as filler materials for the PEEK. These filler materials and their combinations were found to have a significant influence on the tribological behaviour of the corresponding PEEK compounds. One of the compounds (PEEK6) was found, especially at higher temperatures and under higher normal loads, to be a good coating material showing superior tribological behaviour. For PEEK6, a specific wear rate and a coefficient of friction (COF) lower than those for the best commercially available PEEK compound (PEEK4) were measured. For specific test parameters, PEEK6 showed a COF of less than 0.1. The tribological results were also compared with those of a conventional sliding bearing material based on poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF).     

Effect of the chemical structure of fluorinated esters on the tribological properties of a steel‐on‐steel system

The effect of the chemical structure of fluorinated esters on the friction and wear behaviour of a steel‐on‐steel system was investigated. The friction and wear testing of a steel disc sliding against a counterpart ball of the same steel was carried out using an Optimal SRV oscillating friction and wear tester. The chemical features of the worn steel surfaces were analysed by means of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the morphologies and elemental compositions of the worn steel surfaces observed and determined using scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that a fluorinated ester with methylene groups that are not substituted by fluorine in the acid structure gives the best friction‐reducing behaviour and a keto‐ester shows the best antiwear properties.     

Friction and wear behaviour of hard coatings in vibrating contacts

The friction and wear behaviour of thin hard coatings, such as TiN and the promising class of C-based coatings (a-C, a-C:H, and diamond for example), are compared under oscillating and reciprocating sliding conditions. The typical effects of test parameters, such as stroke, frequency, normal force, relative humidity and test duration, are described as a basis for the proper selection of test conditions or, conversely, for the selection of suitable coatings for particular practical applications. Friction and wear data from over 1000 vibrating tests using thin hard coatings against 100Cr6 and against Al₂O₃ have been compiled in a database. This allows easy manipulation and comparison of test results. Using selection criteria and filter procedures (e. g., lifetime of coatings, friction limits, and critical wear rate), suitable coating systems for different test conditions can be chosen from the database. The effects of test parameters on friction and wear behaviour and changes have anyway to be known for meaningful tribotesting, as well as for the selection of coatings.     

The use of post‐mortem Raman spectroscopy in explaining friction and wear behaviour of sintered polyimide at high temperature

Due to their thermal stability and high strength, polyimides are an aromatic type of polymer that is used in sliding equipment functioning under high loads and elevated temperature. However, its tribological behaviour under high temperature and atmospheric conditions is not fully understood. It has been reported that a transition from high towards lower friction occurs ‘somewhere’ in the temperature region between 100°C and 200°C; however, a correlation with changes in the polyimide molecular structure remains difficult to illustrate and it is not certain whether or not this transition is correlated to lower wear. In the present work sliding experiments under controlled bulk temperatures between 100°C and 260°C are performed. A transition is observed in both friction and wear at 180°C which is further explained by microscopic analysis of the transfer film on the steel counterface and Raman spectroscopy of the worn polymer surfaces. A close examination of the spectra reveals transitions in relative intensity of certain absorption bands, pointing to different orientation effects of the molecular conformation at the polymer sliding surface at 180°C. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tribological properties of h‐BN nanoparticles as lubricant additive on cylinder liner and piston ring

Friction and wear behaviour of different concentrations of hex‐boron nitride (h‐BN) nanoparticles in engine oil of grade SAE 20W50 were studied at various loads. These tribological studies were conducted using a four‐ball wear test machine and a pin‐on‐disc universal tribometer. Anti‐wear properties of SAE 20W50 + h‐BN were studied on the four‐ball wear test machine as per ASTM D4172 standard. Friction and wear properties of SAE 20W50 + h‐BN on piston ring and cylinder liner tribo‐pair were studied using the universal tribometer. Nanoparticles of h‐BN mixed in lubricant showed excellent tribological performance. In most of the cases, h‐BN nanoparticles as additive reduced the wear loss by 30–70% at various loads. The minimum value of coefficient of friction (0.0401) was found with SAE 20W50 + 3 wt% of h‐BN at normal load of 100 N. Scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used for characterisation of h‐BN and wear scars. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tribological properties of high-melting oxides and nonmetallic compounds at elevated temperatures. Part 1: Oxides

Information on the tribological properties of high-melting oxides and nonmetallic oxygen-free compounds at elevated temperatures in vacuum and in air is reviewed. This information will allow the identification of promising wear-resistant materials for use in high-temperature friction units; such materials could include ceramics based on high-melting oxides (aluminium, zirconium, chromium); ceramics based on nonmetallic high-melting compounds (silicon carbide and nitride and, to a lesser extent, boron carbide and cubic nitride); and composite materials based on oxides and nonmetallic compounds, including those containing high-melting metal-like compounds. To reduce the contact friction of these materials between themselves and with other materials, solid lubricating substances are necessary as components of composite materials or their coatings. It is advisable to use ceramic materials, applied using modern techniques, as coatings on friction units.