Prediction of the fretting fatigue resistance of various surface-modification layers on 1045 steel: the role of fretting maps

In this work, fretting maps of various surface modifications were established based on the friction logs of fretting experiments. The fretting fatigue resistance of the coatings was analyzed according to the features of the fretting maps of the coatings. The results showed clearly that fretting maps of materials are effective tools to predict the fretting fatigue properties of substrates and surface-modification coatings. It was also demonstrated that the fretting fatigue resistance of a 1045 steel substrate could be improved to different extents through surface modification. The fretting fatigue resistance of solid lubricating coatings was the best and the tendency for initiation and propagation of cracks in the substrate material could also be restrained by depositing hard coatings.