Tribological behaviour of Si3N4 and Si3N4-%TiN based composites and multi-layer laminates

Si₃N₄-TiN based multi-layer laminates exhibit differences in residual stress between individual layers due to a variation of the thermal expansion coefficient between the layers. The residual stress distribution in these multi-layer laminates is known to improve the apparent macroscopic fracture toughness. In this work, the tribological behaviour of bulk, composites and multi-layers laminates are investigated. Si₃N₄ bulk, Si₃N₄ based composites with 10, 20 and 30 wt% TiN and different multi-layer laminates have been tested under dry conditions with reciprocal movement using a ball-on-block configuration. In particular, the influence of sliding directions with respect to the layer orientations has been investigated.The experimental results show that wear resistance increased with increasing TiN content in Si₃N₄-TiN composites. However, multi-layer laminates exhibit an up to three times higher apparent fracture toughness, but do not show an improvement of wear resistance compared to composites.     

Sliding speed-temperature wear transition maps for Si3N4/iron alloy couples

The superior high temperature resistance of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) based ceramics makes them suitable for tribological applications above room temperature or in high speed unlubricated sliding. There are some published works on the wear behaviour of Si₃N₄/metal alloys. However, experimental data are shown in a form that is not of direct use for engineers involved in materials selection. In the present work, Si₃N₄ pins were tested against tool steel and grey cast iron on a pin-on-disc tribometer. Ceramics were produced by hot-pressing and tested without lubrication at variable temperature and sliding speed. SEM/EDS and XRD analysis were used for chemical and microstructural characterisation of worn surfaces and wear debris. At low speeds (0.05–0.5 m s⁻¹) and room temperature, Si₃N₄ surfaces are polished-like due to a combination of humidity-assisted tribo-oxidation and abrasive action of very fine wear debris. At high sliding speeds (2–3.5 m s⁻¹), as well as for temperatures in the range 400–600°C, an extensive coherent tribolayer mainly composed by iron oxides spreads over the ceramic surfaces. Polishing and protection by adherent tribolayers are the mechanisms responsible for observed severe and mild wear regimes, respectively. Wear maps are constructed showing the transition of wear regimes in Si₃N₄/iron alloys contacts determined by constant flash temperature curves. Equations for calculation of bulk and flash contact temperatures in tribocontacts between dissimilar materials are deduced.     

Improved wear resistance of Si3N4 tool inserts by addition of Al2O3 platelets

In the present work, Si₃N₄ matrix composites reinforced with different amounts of Al₂O₃ platelets (0, 30 and 50vol%) were produced with the aim of increasing the tribochemical resistance in the machining of steels. Tool wear was related to the linear increase of the main cutting force (F_c) with time (dF_c/dt); a real-time parameter that can be used to assess the cutting edge damage and to stop machining before the tool fails. For all machined steels, tool wear resistance increased with increasing Al₂O₃ platelet content.     

Friction and wear of self-mated SiC and Si3N4 sliding in water

The friction and wear of self-mated SiC and Si₃N₄ with different initial roughness sliding in water were investigated with pin-on-disk apparatus at normal load of 5 N and sliding speed of 120 mm/s in ambient condition. It was found that, for self-mated Si₃N₄, the wear mechanism for surface smoothening to obtain low friction was tribochemical wear, but for self-mated SiC, it changed from mechanical wear into tribochemical wear with increasing sliding cycles. After running-in in water, self-mated Si₃N₄ exhibited lower steady-state friction coefficient than self-mated SiC did. For these two ceramics, initial and steady-state friction coefficients were hardly dependent on initial roughness. Initial roughness mainly affected the running-in period. The larger the initial roughness, the longer the running-in period, but the running-in period was much shorter for self-mated Si₃N₄ at each initial roughness than that for self-mated SiC.     

Friction and wear properties of duplex MAO/CrN coatings sliding against Si3N4 ceramic balls in air, water and oil

It is evident that the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) ceramic coatings often exhibit relatively high friction coefficients as sliding against many mating materials. To reduce the friction coefficient for the MAO coatings, the duplex MAO/CrN coatings were deposited on 2024Al alloy using combined micro-arc oxidation and reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and phase of the duplex coatings were observed and determined using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The friction and wear behaviors of the duplex coatings sliding against Si₃N₄ balls in air, water and oil were investigated using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The wear rate of the duplex coating was determined by non-contact optical profilometer and the wear tracks on the duplex coatings were observed by SEM. The results showed the CrN coatings mainly consisted of Cr, CrN and Cr₂N phases. The duplex coatings/Si₃N₄ tribopair exhibited the highest friction coefficient in air, while displayed the lowest friction coefficient in oil. When the normal load and the sliding speed increased, the friction coefficient in air increased from 0.65 to 0.72, whereas decreased from 0.58 to 0.36 in water and 0.20 to 0.08 in oil. The specific wear rates for the duplex coatings in air were higher than those in oil. In comparison to the MAO coatings, the duplex MAO/CrN coatings displayed excellent tribological properties under the same conditions.     

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.     

Lubrication of Si3N4 and Al2O3 in water with and without addition of silane coupling agents in the range of 0.05–0.10 mol/l

To improve water lubrication of ceramics at a lower sliding velocity, the effect of the addition of silane coupling agents was investigated. Si₃N₄ and Al₂O₃ were slid against themselves in water with and without the addition of silane coupling agents in amounts ranging from 0.05 to 0.10 mol/l. Silane coupling agents containing one or more amino groups were effective in reducing the friction of Si₃N₄ and Al₂O₃ in water. Si₃N₄ also showed significant wear reduction but not Al₂O₃. However, the addition of a silane coupling agent containing an epoxy group increased both friction and wear of Si₃N₄. Improved lubricative characteristics of Si₃N₄ in water and in silane coupling agent solutions were obtained when Si₃N₄ contained smaller amounts of sintering additives. The adsorption behaviour of a silane coupling agent on ceramics was examined using both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography to clarify the interaction between the silane coupling agent and the ceramics. The role of polysiloxane film formation on ceramics is discussed to demonstrate the lubrication properties of ceramics.     

Dry and water-lubricated slip-rolling of Si3N4- and SiC-based ceramics

Tests on self-mated Si₃N₄- and SiC-based ceramics as well as ceramic-ceramic composites were performed in an Amsler-type wear tester under dry and water-lubricated rolling conditions with 10% slip. Under dry friction, wear coefficients of the materials varied by four decades. Unlubricated wear coefficients below 10⁻⁷ mm³/(N.m), defined as a practical limit for applicability, can be achieved with Si₃N₄-TiN below 775 MPa and with HIP-SiC below 750 MPa. HIPped Si₃N₄ and hot-pressed SiC-TiC under dry friction exhibit a small dependency of wear coefficient on Hertzian pressure, with wear coefficients below 10⁻⁶ mm³/(N.m). The lowest wear coefficient below 10⁻⁶ mm³/(N.m) with water lubrication was found for Si₃N₄-TiN and S-RBSi₃N₄; water reduces the variability in wear coefficient for Si₃N₄- and SiC-based ceramics.     

氮化硅陶瓷水射流辅助激光精密加工

为解决工程陶瓷在激光加工中的表面质量问题提出了溶液辅助激光加工方法,首先在综合国内外有关研究的基础上,分析了激光穿越水层的能量传输、激光作用水下固体物质的热传导和静水及水射流辅助激光加工的作用机理;搭建了旁轴射流与超声振动辅助激光复合加工系统,开展了不同加工条件下氮化硅陶瓷刻槽对比试验。借助扫描电子显微镜检测分析激光刻蚀槽体形貌,运用激光共聚焦显微镜观测了槽体截面轮廓。研究表明,水射流辅助激光加工氮化硅陶瓷,因激光穿越水层、水的对流冷却等作用减少了激光烧蚀材料的有效能量,刻蚀深度有所降低;同时由于水层的存在改变了加工区域能量分布,使得槽口变宽。当激光电流200A、频率50Hz、脉宽0.6ms时刻槽深度相对减小30%,宽度增大21%。水与氮化硅在激光作用下的会发生水解等效应,且水蒸汽、材料蒸汽、熔融粒子、气泡等沿水流动方向被带走,有利于表面质量的提高,综合效果良好。     

A comparative study on the microstructure and tribological properties of Si3N4 and TiN films produced by the IBED method

The tribological properties of Si₃N₄ and TiN thin films produced by ion beam enhanced deposition (IBED) were compared on a SRV friction and wear testing machine. The friction coefficient of all thin films shows a descending tendency with increase in load, and is lower than that of 52100 steel. All the IBED films show a much better wear resistance than 52100 steel, especially in the higher load and frequency ranges; it can reach six times that of the latter. In order to understand the reasons for their excellent properties, the microstructure, microhardness and bonding strength with the substrate were analysed by SEM, X-ray diffraction, Knoop hardness and scratching test methods separately. The results show that the TiN(1) film exhibits the best tribological properties, which are closely related with its greater hardness and bonding strength.     

二步法制备Si3N4／MoSi2 合材料的研究

用Ｍｏ粉、Ｓｉ粉通过二步法反应制得Ｓｉ３Ｎ４／ＭｏＳｉ２复合材料,并用Ｘ射线衍射和扫描电镜、抗析仪等方法对材料进行了显微结构和机械性能的测定。研究表明,复合材料的机械性能,特别是高温机械性能比Ｓｉ３Ｎ４材料有显著的提高。     

The comparisons of sliding speed and normal load effect on friction coefficients of self-mated Si3N4 and SiC under water lubrication

The effects of sliding speed and normal load on friction coefficients of self-mated Si₃N₄ and SiC sliding in water after running-in in water were investigated with pin-on-disk apparatus at sliding speeds of 30 to 120 mm/s, normal loads of 1 to 14 N in ambient condition. The results showed that, after running-in in water, for two kinds of self-mated ceramics, friction coefficient increases with both decreasing sliding speed and increasing normal load when normal load is larger than a critical normal load. Friction coefficient was independent of normal load when normal load is smaller than the critical load. The lubrication film of Si₃N₄ under water lubrication exhibited larger load carrying capacity than that of SiC did. Stribeck curves indicated that, for self-mated Si₃N₄ ceramics, hydrodynamic lubrication will change into boundary lubrication abruptly when the sommerfeld number is less than a critical value; while for self-mated SiC ceramics, hydrodynamic lubrication will change into mixed lubrication and then into boundary lubrication gradually when the sommerfeld number is below critical value.     

Si3N4-hBN陶瓷复合材料与Fe-B合金配副的摩擦学特性研究

利用MMU-5G销-盘式端面磨损试验机考察Si3N4-hBN陶瓷复合材料与Fe-B合金配副分别在干摩擦和水润滑条件下的摩擦磨损性能,分别采用扫描电子显微镜( SEM)、激光扫描显微镜(LSM)、X光电子能谱(XPS)、X射线能谱(EDS)和X射线衍射(XRD)分析摩擦面及磨屑的形貌与物质组成.结果表明,hBN的加入未能有效地改善Si3N4-hBN/Fe-B合金摩擦副的摩擦学性能,干摩擦条件下,Si3N4-hBN摩擦表面微凸体与Fe-B合金中的硬质相Fe2B发生碰撞而导致脆性断裂和剥落,发生磨粒磨损,摩擦因数均高于0.9,磨损率均高于10-5 mm3/ (N·m)数量级;水润滑条件下,由于水流带走了磨屑,避免磨粒磨损的发生,为Si3N4-hBN摩擦表面发生化学抛光提供条件,化学抛光使销、盘试样的摩擦表面变得光滑,从而获得较为优异的摩擦学性能.     

Probing the local temperature by in situ electron microscopy on a heated Si3N4 membrane

We present a method allowing us to obtain localized heating that is compatible with high-temperature operation and real time scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Localized heating is induced by flowing current through tungsten nanowires deposited by focused ion-beam-induced deposition on a 50-nm-thick Si₃N₄ membrane. Based on the heat transport between the nanowire and the substrate, we applied an analytical model to obtain the temperature profile as a function of electrical power. In this model, the key parameter is the thermal resistance between the nanowire and the substrate that we determined experimentally by measuring electrical power and local temperature. The local temperature is measured by observing the evaporation of gold nanoparticle by electron microscopy. These in situ heating and temperature-probing capabilities are used to study the crystallization of the Si₃N₄ membrane and the growth of silicon nanowires.     

Friction and wear behaviour of Thordon XL and LgSn80 in sliding against plasma-sprayed Cr2O3 coatings

This paper studies the friction and wear behaviour of two important bearing materials, Thordon XL and LgSn80, in dry and lubricated sliding vs. plasma-sprayed Cr₂O₃ coatings. As a reference, AISI 1043 steel is also studied under the same conditions. SEM, EDS and surface topography were employed to study the wear mechanisms. The results indicate that the Thordon XL/Cr₂O₃ coating pair gives the lowest dry friction coefficient (0.16) under a normal load of 45.3 N (pressure 0.453 MPa) at a velocity of 1 m/s. The dry friction coefficient of Thordon XL/Cr₂O₃ coating increases to 0.38 under a normal load of 88.5 N (pressure 0.885 MPa). The dry friction coefficients of the LgSn80/Cr₂O₃ coating are in the range of 0.31–0.46. Secondly, both dry wear rate under low normal load (45.3 N) and lubricated wear rate under a load of 680 N for Thordon XL are lower than those of LgSn80 in sliding against plasma-sprayed Cr₂O₃ coatings at a speed of 1 m/s. However, under a normal load of 88.5 N the dry wear rate of Thordon XL is much higher than that of LgSn80. Thirdly, a high viscosity lubricant (SAE 140) leads to lower wear for Thordon XL and LgSn80 than a low viscosity lubricant (SAE 30). Finally, the dominating wear mechanism for Thordon XL is shear fracture when against the plasma-sprayed Cr₂O₃ ceramic coating. For LgSn80 against plasma-sprayed Cr₂O₃ ceramic coating, abrasive wear is the governing failure mechanism.     

Friction and wear behaviour of plasma-sprayed Cr2O3 coatings against steel in a wide range of sliding velocities and normal loads

This study investigates the influence of sliding speed and normal load on the friction and wear of plasma-sprayed Cr₂O₃ coatings, in dry and lubricated sliding against AISI D2 steel. Friction and wear tests were performed in a wide speed range of 0.125–8 m/s under different normal loads using a block-on-ring tribometer. SEM, EDS and XPS were employed to identify the mechanical and chemical changes on the worn surfaces. A tangential impact wear model was proposed to explain the steep rising of wear from the minimum wear to the maximum wear. The results show that the wear of Cr₂O₃ coatings increases with increasing load. Secondly, there exist a minimum-wear sliding speed (0.5 m/s) and a maximum-wear sliding speed (3 m/s) for a Cr₂O₃ coating in dry sliding. With the increase of speed, the wear of a Cr₂O₃ coating decreases in the range 0.125–0.5 m/s, then rises steeply from 0.5 m/s to 3 m/s, followed by a decrease thereafter. The large variation of wear with respect to speed can be explained by stick-slip at low speeds, the tangential impact effect at median speeds and the softening effect of flash temperature at high speeds. Thirdly, the chemical compositions of the transfer film are a-Fe₂O₃ in the speed range 0.25–2 m/s, and FeO at 7 m/s. In addition, the wear mechanisms of a Cr₂O₃ coating in dry sliding versus AISI D2 steel are adhesion at low speeds, brittle fracture at median speeds and a mixture of abrasion and brittle fracture at high speeds. Finally the lubricated wear of Cr₂O₃ coating increases sharply from 1 to 2.8 m/s.     

Si3N4陶瓷—白口铸铁在无润滑条件下的磨损性能分析

研究了无润滑条件下Si3N4陶瓷－白口铸铁磨擦副的磨损机理,通过对磨损表面的形貌分析和化学成分测试,发现粘附磨损和疲劳磨损是这一摩擦副磨损的主要形式,通过对试验数据进行回归分析,得知载荷对摩擦副磨损率的影响远大于速度对其的影响。     

Sliding wear characteristics of plasma-sprayed Al2O3 and Cr2O3 coatings against copper alloy under severe conditions

Al₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃ coatings were deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying and their tribological properties dry sliding against copper alloy were evaluated using a block-on-ring configuration at room temperature. It was found that the wear resistance of Al₂O₃ coating was superior to that of the Cr₂O₃ coating under the conditions used in the present study. This mainly attributed to its better thermal conductivity of Al₂O₃ coating, which was considered to effectively facilitate the dissipation of tribological heat and alleviate the reduction of hardness due to the accumulated tribological heat. As for the Al₂O₃ coating, the wear mechanism was plastic deformation along with some micro-abrasion and fatigue-induced brittle fracture, while the failure of Cr₂O₃ coating was predominantly the crack propagation-induced detachment of transferred films and splats spallation.     

Impact of Cr3C2/VC addition on the dry sliding friction and wear response of WC–Co cemented carbides

Two grades of WC–10 wt.%Co cemented carbide with or without addition of Cr₃C₂/VC grain growth inhibitor during liquid phase sintering were produced with the goal to investigate their reciprocating sliding friction and wear behaviour against WC–6 wt.%Co cemented carbide under unlubricated conditions. The tribological characteristics were obtained on a Plint TE77 tribometer using distinctive normal contact loads. The generated wear tracks were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and quantified topographically using surface scanning equipment. The post-mortem obtained wear volumes were compared to the online assessed wear. Correlations between wear volume, wear rate and coefficient of friction on the one hand and sliding distance and microstructural properties on the other hand were determined, revealing a significant influence of Cr₃C₂/VC on the friction characteristics and wear performance.