Tribological Properties of Borided AISI 4140 Steel with the Powder Pack-Boriding Method

The present study evaluates the tribological properties of boride layers on the surface of AISI 4140 steel, formed using the pack-boriding method. Commercial EKabor^®2 was used as the boronizing agent and the treatment was carried out at 900, 950, 1000, and 1050 °C for 2, 4, and 6 h, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and microhardness tests were used to characterize the phase composition, microstructure, and local hardness, respectively, of the borided steel samples. Block-on-disc tests were used to investigate tribological properties. Abrasive wear tests were carried out using emery paper at a fixed sliding speed and three different loads. Adhesive wear tests were executed against AISI 52100 steel at a fixed load and distance. The coefficient of friction values (COF) of the samples were determined simultaneously during the tests. The weight loss and COF of the borided samples were compared with untreated samples and the results suggest that both wear resistance and friction properties of the AISI 4140 steel improve with boriding.     

Improved wear resistance of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene by plasma immersion ion implantation

Surface modification of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been explored using the novel non-line-of-slight plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) with nitrogen. The modified surfaces were characterised by SEM and a Nano Test 600 testing machine. The tribological behaviour of PIII treated UHMWPE sliding against AISI 316L stainless steel counterfaces was evaluated using a pin-on-disc tribometer under water lubricated conditions. The experimental results show that PIII is a very promising surface engineering technique to improve such surface mechanical properties as surface hardness and elastic modulus of UHMWPE. As a result, the wear resistance of UHMWPE was significantly enhanced by a factor of three following PIII treatment, as compared with untreated material. It was found that the significantly improved wear resistance of PIII treated UHMWPE can be mainly attributed to ion bombardment induced cross-linking, and thus surface hardening.     

Tribological properties of hardened high strength Boron steel at combined rolling and sliding condition

The use of hardened high strength steel is found in applications where high wear resistance is required. The wear properties of high strength Boron steel are well known in applications with abrasive wear from stones, ore and other hard material. A unique concept of wear protection of rails is newly presented, a wear resistant cap made of hardened high strength Boron steel.Reducing the wear of rails and wheels and controlling the frictional behavior in the wheel/rail contact are two key issues for railway owners in order to reduce the increasing costs related to higher axle loads, higher speeds, more frequent traffic, etc. Therefore, the aim of this work has been to investigate and compare the tribological properties of Boron steel and UIC 1100 rail steel in contact with Blue Light wheel steel (AAR Class C (69-JDG-8)) under dry and water lubricated conditions in a two-disc tribometer. Advanced analytical instruments including 3D optical surface profiler, micro-hardness indenter, light microscope and SEM/EDS were used to analyze the results.Results from the experiments show that the friction coefficient in tests with Boron steel is more stable both in dry and water lubricated conditions than tests including UIC 1100 rail steel used in todays application. Surface damages seen from water lubricated tests on UIC 1100 rail steel are not seen on the surface of the Boron steel discs. In all tests, the wear decreased when water was added in the contact and friction was slightly decreased.     

Friction and rolling–sliding wear of DC-pulsed plasma nitrided AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel

In the present work, industrial-scale DC-pulsed plasma nitriding for 20 h at 673 K was used to improve the wear resistance of an AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel. The tribological behaviour was studied and compared to the behaviour of the same steel in as-received condition.Pin-on-disc dry tests, using an alumina ball as counter-body, were carried out to determine the evolution of the friction coefficient. The wear resistance was investigated using an Amsler-disc-machine, employing a dry combined contact of rolling–sliding with three different applied loads. The wear mechanisms involved during rolling–sliding of unnitrided and plasma nitrided steels were investigated by microscopic observation of the surfaces, the corresponding cross-sections and the produced wear debris.The combination of different wear mechanisms taking place in the wear process of unnitrided and nitrided materials were discussed and analyzed. In contrast to the unnitrided steel, DC-pulsed plasma nitrided samples presented an improvement in the friction coefficient and the wear rate.     

Dry-Sliding Tribological Properties of Bronze–Graphite Composites

Bronze-uncoated and nickel-coated graphite composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy route. The tribological behaviors of composites sliding against AISI52100 steel ball under dry sliding condition were studied using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The nickel-coated graphite composites showed much better tribological properties in comparison with bronze and uncoated graphite composite. The friction coefficient of nickel-coated graphite composites decreased with increasing nickel-coated graphite content. However, the specific wear rate increased with the increase in nickel-coated graphite. The composite containing 15?wt% nickel-coated graphite showed the best self-lubricating properties because the compacted and stable mechanical mixed layer was formed on the worn surfaces. The wear mechanism of bronze 663 is adhesive wear and abrasive wear. The uncoated nickel-coated graphite composite shows the adhesive wear and delamination characteristics. However, the wear mechanism of nickel-coated composites is mildly abrasive wear.     

甘油润滑下CrCN涂层的超低摩擦特性

为开发与CrCN涂层具有良好配伍润滑性能的绿色润滑剂,使用磁控溅射技术在304不锈钢表面沉积CrCN涂层,利用场发射扫描电子显微镜、原子力显微镜、纳米压痕仪、维氏硬度计、X射线衍射仪、X射线光电子能谱仪分别对其表面形貌、涂层厚度、力学性能、物相组成以及元素化学价态进行分析,并借助多功能摩擦磨损试验机评价在甘油润滑下CrCN涂层的摩擦学性能,并与PAO6润滑下结果进行比较。利用磁控溅射技术在不锈钢表面构筑的CrCN涂层表面光滑致密,粗糙度仅为1.01 nm,硬度可达14.39 GPa。对比钢-钢和钢-CrCN体系的摩擦学性能发现,钢-CrCN体系在甘油润滑下展现出优异的润滑性能;当负载为0.5 N时,钢-CrCN体系在甘油润滑下的摩擦因数可低至0.01,大大低于PAO6润滑下的摩擦因数。对磨痕的XPS分析表明,在摩擦过程中,甘油发生摩擦化学反应,在CrCN涂层的接触表面生成一层FeOOH层,甘油分子及其降解产物可能进一步吸附在FeOOH层,形成流体润滑层,有效降低了摩擦和磨损。     

Wear of AISI 4340 steel under boundary lubrication

Wear tests were conducted using AISI 4340 steel sliding on AISI 01 tool steel under boundary lubrication conditions. The AISI 4340 steel was heat treated to obtain different microstructures and hardness levels. The results indicated that the wear behavior depends on the heat treatment procedure. It was found that hardness alone cannot be used as a measure of wear and that the microstructure and other mechanical properties should also be used. Chemical reaction products containing phosphorus, sulfur and zinc were found on the wear surfaces lubricated with a fully formulated light oil containing zinc dithiophosphates. The chemically reacted film was nonuniform and consisted of patches 1–1500 μm in size. The larger patches were formed on the surface of steel with a pearlite-ferrite microstructure and resulted in a high wear rate. In contrast, the small patches and the thin blue and brown films were formed on the wear surface of tempered martensite steel and produced low wear rates.     

Effect of high-speed thermal treatment followed by ion-beam nitriding on physicomechanical properties of steel 40X

The effect of high-speed thermal treatment followed by ion-beam nitriding on the structure and physicomechanical properties of structural steel 40X is studied. The phase composition and structure of the steel and the modified layer after high-speed hardening and nitriding are determined. The effect of nitrogen ion implantation on the tribological behavior and impact strength of steel 40X is considered. The wear resistance of nitrogen-modified steel 40X increases approximately twofold compared to its initial state and damage work under applied load to the hardened surface increases by 40–50 J/cm².     

Influence of the countermaterial on the dry sliding friction and wear behaviour of low temperature carburized AISI316L steel

Low temperature carburising (LTC) allows a significant hardness increase, with a consequent increase in wear resistance, without deteriorating corrosion behaviour. However, wear resistance strongly depends on contact conditions, therefore this work focuses on the dry sliding behaviour of LTC-treated AISI316L austenitic stainless steel against several countermaterials (AISI316L, LTC-treated AISI316L, hard chromium or plasma-sprayed Al₂O₃–TiO₂). LTC produced a hardened surface layer (C-supersaturated expanded austenite), which improved corrosion resistance in NaCl 3.5% and increased wear resistance, to an extent which depends on both normal load and countermaterial. The best results were obtained when at least one of the contacting bodies was LTC-treated, because this condition led to mild tribo-oxidative wear. However, LTC did not improve the behaviour in terms of friction.     

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.     

Dry sliding of plasma-sintered iron—The influence of nitriding on wear resistance

Samples of unalloyed iron were sintered in the presence of an abnormal glow discharge using the confined anode–cathode configuration in order to allow surface enrichment of the sample with atoms from the cathode. AISI 430 and AISI 1020 cathodes were used to sinter the iron with and without Cr enrichment, respectively. The chromium favors the formation of a hard compound layer after nitriding (with a microhardness up to 1300 HV) due to the presence of chromium nitrides. In order to evaluate the wear resistance and surface damage to the samples, dry sliding wear tests were carried out using a block-on-ring system with applied normal loads of 25–150 N. A large scatter in the experimental results was observed for the unnitrided samples. This effect was attributed to the capacity of the materials to undergo a severe-to-mild wear transition during sliding. Nitriding was found to reduce the wear rate by at least one order of magnitude. In particular, the nitrided samples enriched with chromium (540 °C) did not display any damage at 25 N, the lowest normal load used in the present investigation.     

Assessment and application of TiB2 coating in sliding pair under lubrication conditions

The aim of the present work is to determine the influence of TiB₂ coating on the friction parameters in sliding pairs under lubricated friction conditions. The TiB₂ coating deposited on modified surface layers of ring specimens made of AISI 5045 steel was matched under test conditions with counterparts made from SAE-783 and SAE-48 bearing alloys. Tested sliding pairs were lubricated with 5 W/40 Lotos synthetic engine oil. Tribological properties of the TiB₂ coating were measured using a block-on-ring tribometer. The applied modification technology of the surface layer of steel allowed for obtaining construction material with pre-determined tribological characteristics required for the elements of sliding pairs in lubricated contact. The results showed differences in the wear of bearing alloys, as a result of the interaction between co-operating surface layers and of the physiochemical changes of their surfaces, induced by external forces. Friction resistance and temperature in the friction area in the pair with TiB₂ coating and the SAE-783 bearing alloy are considerably higher than in the pair with the SAE-48 bearing alloy. The SAE-48 bearing alloy is subjected to more intensive wear processes in contact with the TiB₂ coating than the SAE-783 bearing alloy.     

ESPCP系统推力球在原油态下摩擦磨损性能研究

利用SRV摩擦磨损试验机模拟了潜油螺杆泵采油系统（ESPCP系统）推力球在原油为润滑介质时的摩擦磨损性能，通过不同热处理的GCr15钢球与GCr15钢盘的摩擦磨损性能研究，考察了等离子渗氮GCr15钢代替淬火GCr15钢的可行性；利用X射线散射（XRD）对等离子渗氮GCr15钢表面进行成分分析，考察了以原油为润滑介质时，钢盘的摩擦磨损性能。结果表明，GCr15钢等离子渗氮后在提高表面硬度的同时，其抗磨性能大幅度提高。通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）和X光电子能谱仪（XPS）对磨斑表面形貌和表面成分进行了分析，表明等离子渗氮层具有更好的抗磨、减摩性能和更高的承载能力。     

The influence of the nitriding process on the dry wear resistance of 15-5 PH stainless steel

The dry wear resistance of 15-5 PH stainless steel nitrided using various methods was investigated. The methods included gas nitriding in cracked ammonia, plasma or ion nitriding and ion implantation of nitrogen. The dry wear resistance and the topography of the wear surface were studied as a function of load and sliding distance. It was found that the wear resistance of the plasma-nitrided specimens is higher than that of the gas-nitrided specimens. The wear resistance of the ion-implanted specimens was even better. However, because of the very small thickness of the implanted layer, only partial results were obtained.     

Effect of cryogenic treatment on the tribological behaviour of H11 hot die steel dry sliding against D3 steel

The tribological behaviour, hardness and microstructural characteristics of vacuum and cryogenically treated AISI H11 steel at varied soaking temperature (?154 and ?184 °C) for specific time period (6, 21 and 36 h) have been examined in this research work. The influence of selected parameters on the tribological behaviour have been studied at five levels of varying sliding velocities (0.628–1.885 m/s) and normal loads (60–140 N) through block–on–ring dry sliding wear test against hardened and tempered AISI D3 tool steel (counter face). The experiments are designed based on full factorial response surface methodology. The responses (wear rate, average coefficient of friction and maximum contact temperature) are analyzed based on plotted graphs. The results reveal that 21 h at ?184 °C for H11steel is the optimal soak time to have the lowest wear rate. The sliding speed influences the wear rate more in comparison to load. Wear debris have shape of metallic plate. Carbide particles appeared to delaminate from the sample surface due to subsurface cracks and plastic deformation. The augmentation of apparent and bulk hardness number and wear resistance ascribed to the increase in number of fine globular secondary carbide and improved morphology of matrix microstructure of cryogenic-treated sample. It is also observed that cryogenic treatment reduces the retained austenite content to near zero.     

Wear resistance and anti-sticking properties of duplex treated forming tool steel

The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of using hard physical vapour deposition (PVD) coatings on forming tools, as well as to determine the influence of plasma nitriding on the load-carrying capacity and wear resistance of coated tool surfaces. A load-scanning test rig was used for evaluation, where duplex treated cold work tool steel samples were loaded against soft austenitic stainless steel and hardened ball bearing steel, respectively. Four different coatings (TiN, TiB₂, TaC and DLC) and two substrate treatments (hardening and plasma nitriding in two different gas mixtures) were included.Plasma nitriding alone significantly improved the friction, wear, and anti-sticking properties of the tool steel. PVD coating, and especially PVD coating of nitrided tool steel further improved the performance. Therefore, from the point of view of tool life as well as work peace surface quality, the DLC coating with its excellent anti-sticking properties and sufficiently good wear resistance represent the best solution for forming tool applications of austenitic stainless steel.     

Sliding and abrasive wear behaviour of boride coatings

Polyphase boride coatings constituted by an inner layer of Fe₂B and an outer layer of FeB were thermochemically grown on iron and medium carbon steel by a pack cementation process. The tribological behaviour of borided samples was investigated under both sliding and abrasion testing conditions. Considerably different values of wear rate were found in different regions of the coatings. The differences were explained on the basis of the crystallographic order of iron borides. The resistance to both types of wear was initially poor due to the presence on the coatings of a thin, friable layer constituted by disordered crystals. Then the resistance increased to a maximum value in regions constituted by compact, highly ordered crystals of Fe₂B. The resistance to dry sliding of borided samples was better than that displayed by samples submitted to alternative surface treatments (e.g. gas nitriding) and lower that that measured for a WC-Co hard metal coating.     

Tribological studies of epoxy and its composite coatings on steel in dry and lubricated sliding

Industrial lubricants are invariably used with additives (with high sulfur and phosphorous contents) for tribological performance enhancement. However, these additives are environmentally very harmful. Hence, there is an urgent need to find alternate solutions for enhancing the tribological performance of lubricants and components without the use of harmful additives. The objective of this work is to investigate the feasibility of using polymer composite coatings in enhancing the tribological properties of steel surfaces in dry and base oil lubricated conditions. Pure epoxy and its composite (with 10?wt-% of graphene or graphite powder) films were coated onto steel substrates and tested under dry and base oil lubricated conditions. Friction and wear experiments were conducted on a ball on cylinder tribometer between polymer/composite coated cylindrical steel surface (shaft) and an uncoated steel ball as the counterface. Tests were conducted at various normal loads and speeds. In dry condition at 3 N load and 0.63?m s^??1 sliding speed, the wear life of epoxy was increased by five times and coefficient of friction was nearly the same (0.18) on inclusion of graphene nanoparticle. In lubricated case, epoxy/graphene composite coating performed eight times and more than five times better than pure epoxy and epoxy/graphite respectively.     

Tribological Behavior of Tin-Based Babbitt Alloy Lubricated by Seawater

In this article, the tribological behaviors of tin-based Babbitt alloy ZChSnSb 8–8 sliding against AISI 302 stainless steel lubricated by seawater were investigated. The results indicated that the friction coefficient decreases with increasing load and sliding speed, and the wear rate increases slightly with load but decreases with sliding speed. The low friction coefficient and wear rate are attributed to the unique “concrete structure” and seawater. As a lubrication medium, seawater has lubricating, cooling, and corrosive effects on the sliding couple.     

Tribological behaviour of steel‐alumina sliding pairs under boundary lubrication conditions

The tribological behaviour of oil‐lubricated steel‐alumina sliding pairs was investigated using a ball‐on‐disc tribometer at room temperature. Commercial bearing balls of 10 mm diameter were mated to 99.7% Al₂O₃ discs, and additive‐free mineral oil was fed into the contact area. The sliding speed and the applied normal load were varied, and the initial surface roughness of the Al₂O₃ disc was altered using different polishing and grinding procedures. The results showed that the surface roughness of the ceramic discs dominated the tribological behaviour under the given experimental conditions. The sliding speed as well as the normal load showed less effect on the friction behaviour, but the amount of wear depended strongly on the normal load. From the results it was concluded that improvement of the surface roughness and optimised surface machining of the ceramic material can be essential for improving the tribological performance for boundary‐lubricated steel‐ceramic sliding pairs.