Friction and wear measurements of laser-sintered and coated parts

The aim of this research is the investigation of surface properties, the measurements of friction coefficient and wear rate of laser-sintered and coated parts. The industrial background of this research is to prove applicability of laser-sintered prototype tools for injection moulding of fibre-reinforced polymers, furthermore to increase the wear resistance of unalloyed steel tools by laser coatings. The materials of the test specimens were laser-sintered phosphorous bronze and unalloyed steel. For increase of wear resistance we used hard Co-based and glassy-like Fe-based (FeB) coatings. As counter bodies we used polymers reinforced with short carbon and glass fibres. The laboratory model tests of selective laser-sintered parts were carried out on a pin-on-disk machine. In case of coated parts—with higher wear resistance—we used a cylinder-on-cylinder tribometer. The tribological properties were determined at different load and temperature conditions. The results of the investigation show that the friction coefficient and wear resistance of laser treated surfaces are good. The coefficient of friction of coated specimens is slightly less, but the wear rate is significantly less.