Friction and wear behavior of electroless Ni-based CNT composite coatings

Ni-based carbon nanotube (CNT) composite coatings with different volume fraction (from 5 to 12 vol.%) of CNTs were deposited on medium carbon steel substrates by electroless plating. The friction and wear behavior of the composite coatings were investigated using a pin-on-disk wear tester under unlubricated condition. Friction and wear tests were conducted at a sliding speed of 0.0623 m s⁻¹ and at an applied load of 20 N. The experimental results indicated that the friction coefficient of the composite coatings decreased with increasing the volume fraction of CNTs due to self-lubrication and unique topological structure of CNTs. Within the range of volume fraction of CNTs from 0 to 11.2%, the wear rate of the composite coatings showed a steadily decreasing trend with increasing volume fraction of CNTs. Because of the conglomeration of CNTs in the matrix, however, the wear rate of the composite coatings increased with further increasing the volume fraction of CNTs.     

Friction and wear of nitride and carbide coatings in contact with aluminum

The study of the physical and mechanical properties of multicomponent nitride ((AlSi, Ti)N and (AlSi,Cr)N), carbides ((AlSi, Ti)-C:H and (AlSi,Cr)-C:H) coatings deposited on the surface substrate from 40Kh steel has been carried out to determine the impact of the load and the sliding velocity on the coefficient of friction. The empirical model of the coefficient of friction of the coating-aluminum couples has been proposed in order to find the nature of the friction wear of coatings. A comparative evaluation of the wear resistance of the coatings at normal and elevated temperatures has been conducted.     

Abrasive wear mechanisms of fluoropolymer based composite coatings on aluminum substrates

Experimental studies on wear performance and wear mechanisms of fluoropolymer based composite, non-stick coatings on aluminum substrates were carried out by using particular wear testing methods, i.e. the “mechanical tiger paw (MTP) Test” and the “Nord Test”. Both are supposed to simulate household abrasive operating conditions in a laboratory environment. It was found that the wear process involved in the MTP Test was an accelerated one, but that in the Nord Test was decelerated due to a transition from severe three-body abrasion to milder two-body sliding wear. In addition, both effects of the microstructure of the coatings and of the surface treatment of the substrates were discussed.     

Friction and wear properties of short carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix composites

The friction and wear properties of short carbon fibers (SCFs) reinforced aluminum matrix composite were studied. The influences of the fiber volume fraction, load applied, rotating speed, and wear mechanism were discussed. The results indicated that SCFs/Al composite had better tribological properties than Al alloy. The friction coefficient and wear mass loss decreased with the fiber volume fraction increased, but increased as the load and rotating speed increased, respectively. SCF reduced direct contact between the matrix and counterpart and improved the wear resistance of SCFs/Al composite greatly. The wear displayed a linear evolution in all the range of load. Surfaces before and after wear tests were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX) spectroscopy.     

Friction, wear and N2-lubrication of carbon nitride coatings: a review

Recent results of tribological properties of carbon nitride (CN_x) coatings are reviewed. CN_x coatings of 100 nm thickness were formed on Si-wafer and Si₃N₄ disks by the ion beam mixing method. Friction and wear tests were carried out against Si₃N₄ balls in the environments of vacuum, Ar, N₂, CO₂, O₂ or air by a ball-on-disk tribo-tester in the load range of 80-750 mN and in the velocity range of 4-400 mm/s.It was found that friction coefficient μ is high (μ=0.2-0.4) in air and O₂, and low (μ=0.01-0.1) in N₂, CO₂ and vacuum. The lowest friction coefficient (μ<0.01) was obtained in N₂. It was also found that N₂ gas blown to the sliding surfaces in air effectively reduced the friction coefficient down to μ≈0.017. Wear rate of CN_x coatings varied in the range 10⁻⁹-10⁻⁵ mm³/N m depending on the environment.The wear mechanisms of CN_x in the nanometer scale were studied by abrasive sliding of an AFM diamond pin in air. It was confirmed that the major wear mechanism of CN_x in abrasive friction was low-cycle fatigue which generated thin flaky wear particles of nanometre size.     

Friction and wear behavior of flame-sprayed PEEK coatings

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) becomes of great interest to applications as bearing and slider materials. In this paper, PEEK coatings with three kinds of crystallinities were deposited using the flame spray process. Employing a uniform design experiment, the friction and wear behavior of the three PEEK coatings were systematically investigated under dry sliding conditions against a 100C6 counterbody on a ball-on-disc arrangement for several loads and sliding velocities. For the three coatings, the friction coefficient significantly followed the normal distribution. The average friction coefficients appeared to decrease while increasing the sliding velocity, but were insensitive to the applied load in the range of investigation. Among the three coatings, the higher the crystallinity of the coating, the lower its average friction coefficient was. The wear rate of the coating with the lowest crystallinity decreased with an increase in the load and a decrease in the sliding velocity. The wear rate of the coating with the intermediate crystallinity decreased with an increase in the load, but increased with an increase in the sliding velocity at lower loads, and then decreased with an increase in the velocity at higher loads. The wear rate of the coating with the highest crystallinity decreased with the increase of both the load and the sliding velocity. The wear mechanisms of the different coatings are explained in terms of plastic deformation, plogh marks and fatigue tearing.     

Friction and wear of diamondlike carbon on fine-graindiamond

Friction and wear behavior of ion-beam-deposited diamondlikecarbon (DLC) films coated on chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD),fine-grain diamond coatings were examined in ultrahigh vacuum,dry nitrogen, and humid air environments. The DLC films wereproduced by the direct impact of an ion beam (composed of a 3 :17 mixture of Ar and CH₄) at ion energies of 1500 and700 eV. Sliding friction experiments were conducted withhemispherical CVD diamond pins sliding on four differentcarbon-base coating systems: DLC films on CVD diamond; DLC filmson silicon; as-deposited, fine-grain CVD diamond; andcarbon-ion-implanted, fine-grain CVD diamond on silicon. Resultsindicate that in ultrahigh vacuum theion-beam-deposited DLC films on fine-grain CVD diamond (similarto the ion-implanted CVD diamond) greatly decrease both thefriction and wear of fine-grain CVD diamond films and providesolid lubrication. In dry nitrogen and in humid air,ion-beam-deposited DLC films on fine-grain CVD diamond films alsohad a lowsteady-state coefficient of friction and a low wear rate. Thesetribological performance benefits, coupled with a wider range ofcoating thicknesses, led to longer endurance life and improvedwear resistance for the DLC deposited on fine-grain CVD diamondin comparison to the ion-implanted diamond films. Thus, DLCdeposited on fine-grain CVD diamond films can be an effectivewear-resistant, lubricating coating regardless of environment.     

Friction and wear of copper/lead and aluminium/tin filled polyamide coatings

The friction and wear of steel pins coated with filled polyamides and loaded against a rotating cylinder of bearing steel were tested under dry, lubricated, and abrasive contaminated conditions. The filler materials were copper/lead and aluminium/tin powders. The test results show a significant reduction in friction with the Cu/Pb filled polyamides (8 wt.% Cu, 12 wt.% Pb, and 80 wt.% PA6). The Al/Sn filled polyamides (3 wt.% Al, 2 wt.% Sn, and 95 wt.% PA6) showed the best wear resistance, accompanied by an increase in the coefficient of friction.     

Friction and wear characteristics of ion-beam modified graphite coatings

Solid lubricated surfaces are now widely used in the tool industry, and the new concept of ‘soft tools’ recently introduced has emphasized low-friction surfaces. The present paper deals with a novel ‘burnishing’ process based on ionic bombardment of powder graphite coating/substrate systems. This process may influence both the coating and the coating/substrate interface, and it is effective for improving lubrication even at low doses of bombarding ions. The present study will discuss the friction and wear properties of graphite-powder coatings on a silicon wafer bombarded with 200 keV ion beams of argon, nitrogen and hydrogen ions, the last two as molecular ions. The coefficients of friction and wear rates of the coatings were found to be strongly dependent on the ion-bombarding species and ion dose. The argon ion bombardment increased the coefficient of friction and wear rate of the powder coating. However, at the interface of the silicon substrate, the ion-induced burnishing improved the tribological behaviour of the silicon material. Bombardment with nitrogen and hydrogen ions showed a marked improvement in the tribological properties of the graphite powder coating. Thus a reduction in wear rate by three orders of magnitude was observed in the case of nitrogen, and for both ions it was noted that ion-beam burnished graphite was lubricating in a dry environment, which has not been reported previously. The perspectives of ion bombardment as a burnishing process will be discussed and the observed effects will be qualitatively explained in the context of the theory for ionic penetration into solids.     

Sliding wear behaviors of in situ alumina/aluminum titanate ceramic composites

In situ alumina/aluminum titanate ceramic composites were prepared by spark plasma sintering with two kinds of alumina/titania powders, which are microsized irregular particles (referred to M powder) and microsized spherical particles composed of nanosized grains (referred to N powder). The phase constitution and microstructures of the powders and as-prepared ceramic composites were characterized by using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The sliding wear behaviors of two alumina/aluminum titanate ceramic composites were investigated by ball-on-disc wear test with varied normal loads. The worn surfaces of ceramic composites and counterpart Si₃N₄ balls were characterized by using SEM equipped with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the wear volume of two ceramic composites increased with increasing the normal load. Under the same normal load, the wear volume of N composite (obtained from the N powder) was higher than that of M composite (obtained from the M powder). Two different behaviors were identified: N composite showed intergranular fracture and grain pull-out; however, the surface reaction layer formed in M composite presented plastic deformation. The different behaviors are controlled by two different mechanisms, brittle fracture mechanism for N and tribochemical reaction mechanism for M. The different wear behaviors for the two ceramic composites were discussed in detail.     

Friction and wear of carbon nanohorn-containing polyimide composites

Polyimide (PI)-based composites containing single-wall carbon nanohorn aggregate (NH) were fabricated using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. For comparison, composites with carbon nanotube (NT) and traditional graphite (Gr) were also fabricated. The NH was produced using CO₂ laser vaporization and a graphite target and the NT was produced by a chemical synthesis method. We evaluated the friction and wear properties of the PI-based composites with a reciprocating friction tester in air using an AISI 304 mating ball. NH drastically decreased the wear of PI-based composites; the specific wear rate of composite with NH of only 5 wt% was of the order of 10⁻⁸ mm³/Nm, which was two orders of magnitude less than that of PI alone. The wear reduction ability of NT seemed to be slightly inferior to that of NH, although it was considerably better than that of Gr. NH and NT lowered the friction of composites. The friction coefficient of composite with 10 wt% NH was less than 0.25, although it was slightly higher than that of composite with 10 wt% Gr. There was no clear difference in the friction reduction effect of NH and NT. The further addition of Gr to composites with NH or NT rather deteriorated the antiwear property of composites, although the friction coefficient was slightly reduced. The transferred materials existed on the friction surface of the mating ball, sliding against composites with three types of carbon filler. These transferred materials seemed to correlate with the low friction and wear properties of composites.     

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.     

An improved method for determining the wear of polymeric coatings

A modification on the Taber Abrader is described in which a $\text{1}\text{4}$ in steel ball is substituted for the conventional sandpaper wheel. As a result, the endpoint of the test becomes much clearer and the test data are suitable for quantitative interpretation. The modified test is applicable not only to high pressure laminates but also to a wide variety of plastics and coatings. Further modifications are proposed to convert the wear path to a straight line instead of the circle found on the Taber Abrader and to increase the load on the ball. These changes are expected to make the testing time comparable to the present sandpaper wheel method.     

Two-body abrasive wear of electroless nickel composite coatings

The two-body abrasive wear of electroless nickel (EN), EN-silicon carbide, and EN-alumina composite coatings have been investigated using a scratch test with a diamond indenter. The coatings were heat treated at temperatures of 100–500° C. The hardness of the coatings increased with heat treatment temperature from 500 HV100 for the as-deposited condition to 1008 HV100 when fully hardened. Scratch testing showed that the as-deposited coating had scratch tracks with a high degree of plasticity, signs of microploughing and tensile cracking and was characterised as a ductile failure. On the other hand, the heat-treated coatings showed chipping and cracking on the edge of the scratch tracks, failing in a brittle manner. The heat-treated EN-silicon carbide coatings, however, exhibited no cracking nor chipping, believed to be due to its higher fracture toughness than the other heat-treated coatings, attributable to its lower phosphorus content. The volume of material removed from the silicon carbide scratch track was 1/3 of the volume removed from the steel substrate at a 20 N load, and showed the best wear/ scratch resistance of any of the coatings tested.     

Friction and wear behaviour of low-friction coatings in conventional and alternative fuels

Today low-friction PVD coatings are used regularly in combustion engines to reduce wear and energy loss due to friction. Three coatings based on transition-metal dichalcogenides and three DLC coatings were tested with respect to tribological behaviour in non-conformal sliding contact, in five conventional and alternative fuels and fuel blending components. The friction and wear proved to vary substantially between the different tested systems. The DLC coatings exhibited extremely good wear properties, but also higher friction. Contrastingly the TMD coatings showed promising friction results, but in their present forms they do not offer sufficient wear resistance in the tested severe contact situation.     

Friction and wear of sintered metallic brake linings on a C/C-SiC composite brake disc

The friction and wear of sintered metallic brake linings on a C/C-SiC composite brake disc were studied. This paper reports on the friction and wear properties of sintered metallic (MMC) brake linings, which appear to combine well with a C/C-SiC brake disc. The friction characteristics were examined with a dynamometer on two different commercial motorcycle brake systems, differing in terms of the brake caliper and the dimensions of the disc. The influence of the components, such as graphite, and the abrasives in the metallic matrix on the formation of the friction layer was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The friction layer formed on the pad's sliding surface by oxidation wear, which consisted mostly of iron and copper oxides, was confirmed. The friction properties of the sintered metallic brake pads were determined and related to the composition and structure of the brake lining. This investigation of the friction characteristics of a brake couple comprising (MMC) brake linings and a C/C-SiC composite disc will increase our understanding of this material, which works in a completely different way to classical brakes based on metallic discs.     

Friction and wear studies of an internally lubricated polyetherimide composite

Polyetherimide (PEI) is one of the latest generic high-performance engineering thermoplastics. PEI (developed by General Electric (USA) under the trade name ULTEM) is an amber and amorphous polymer with a heat distortion temperature between those of polyarylate resin and thermally stable crystalline polymers such as polyether-ether ketone (PEEK) and polyamideimide (PAI). It has excellent thermal, mechanical and electrical properties along with easy processability. In the work reported here, a wear-resistant formulated composite supplied by GEC (ULTEM 4001) was selected for tribological investigations on a pin on disc machine under unlubricated conditions, against mild steel. Analysis of the composite revealed that this grade contained PTFE (13–15%), which is the most promising polymeric lubricant. A very low and stable frictional coefficient was observed against moderately finished surfaces. However, its specific wear resistance (⋍10⁻¹⁴ m³/Nm) was comparatively lower than that of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics. The wear mechanism was found to be significantly dominated by the presence of PTFE. The friction coefficient was in the range of 0.2 and reduced to a still lower value (0.1) as the apparent contactpressure increased. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the underlying wear mechanism. Film transfer of PTFE was observed to be the principal factor responsible for reduced friction.     

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.     

Friction and wear of powder coatings of epoxy composites with alumosilicate nanoparticles

The paper studies the effect of alumosilicate nanofillers of tubular and lamellar shape on the friction and wear of epoxy composites. It is shown that the influence of concentration and shape of the fillers on the tribological behavior of the composites is due to variations in their viscoelastic properties and shielding of the contact area of the matrix material with the metallic counterbody by the filler particles. The data evidence that at equal concentrations of alumosilicate fillers in the epoxy matrix, the best tribological characteristics are provided in the case of tubular-shaped particles.     

Friction and wear of polyamide-6 powder coatings gradient-filled by metal nanofilms

The tribological properties of PA-6 and PA-6-based coatings with surface layers gradient-filled with tin, lead, and bismuth nanofilms in a concentration of up to 1.2 wt % are compared. It has been found that differences in the tribological behavior of the composites are due to the adhesion of the filler metals to the counterbody material. It has been shown that the hardness of the friction surface of the composites depends on the susceptibility of the filler metals to strain hardening and explains differences in the values of their wear.