Preparation and Characterization of Plasma Cu Surface Modified Stainless Steel

Cu modified layer was prepared on the surface of AISI304 stainless steel by plasma surface alloying technique. The effects of processing parameters on the thickness, surface topography, microstructure and chemical composition of Cu modified layer were characterized using glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy （GDOES）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The experimental results show that the surface modified layer is a duplex layer （deposited ＋ diffused layer） with thickness of about 26 ktm under the optimum process parameters. The modified layer is mainly composed of a mixture of Cu and expanded austenite phase. The ball-on-disk results show that the modified layer possesses low friction coefficients （0.25） and excellent wear resistance （wear volume 0.005 x 109 um3）. The Cu modified layer is very effective in killing the bacteria S. aureus. Meanwhile, no viable S. aureus is found after 3 h （100% killed） by contact with the Cu alloyed surface.

Properties of TiAICrN coatings prepared by vacuum cathodic arc ion plating

TiAlCrN coatings were deposited by means of vacuum cathodic arc ion plating technique on TC 11 （Ti-6.5Al-3.5Mo-1.5Zr-0.3Si） titanium alloy substrates. The composition, phase structure, mechanical performance, and oxidation-resistance of the nivide coatings were investi- gated by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, atomic force microscope （AFM）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, auger electron spectroscopy （AES）, and X-ray photoelectron microscopy （XPS）. A new process for preparing protective coatings of the titanium alloy is successfully ac- quired. The experimental results indicate that the added element chromium in the TiAlN coatings make a contribution to form the （220） pre- ferred direction. The phases of the coatings are composed of （Ti,Al）N and （Ti,Cr）N. After 700~C and 800~C oxidation, AES analysis shows that the diffusion distribution of the TiAlCrN coatings emerges a step shape. From the outside to the inner, the concentrations of O, Al, and Cr reduce, but those of Ti and N increase. The Al-rich oxide is formed on the surface of the coatings, and the mixed structure of Ti-rich and Cr-rich oxides is formed in the internal layer. The oxidation resistance of the TiAlCrN coatings is excellent at the range of 700 to 800~C. Adhesion wear is the dominant mechanical characteristic for the titanium alloy at room temperature, and the protective coatings with high hardness can improve the mechanical properties of the titanium alloy. The wear resistance of the TC 11 alloy is considerably improved by the TiAlCrN coatings.

High temperature induced“glaze”layer formed in HVOF-sprayed NiCrWMoCuCBFe coating and its wear reduction mechanism

The in-situ formation of oxides on alloy surface induced by high temperature can effectively reduce wear and resist oxidation.In consideration of the solid solution strengthening effect and great oxidation resistance of additional elements at elevated temperature,the NiCrWMoCuCBFe coating was prepared by high velocity oxygen flame(HVOF)spraying technology,and its tribological behavior was scrutinized from 25 to 800°C.By means of high temperature Vickers hardness tester and high temperature X-ray diffractometer,the mechanical properties and microstructures of NiCrWMoCuCBFe coating were measured.And the effect of the mechanical properties and microstructures of the coating on tribological performance was discussed in detail.The results showed both its friction coefficient(0.37)and wear rate(5.067×10^(−6)mm^(3)·N^(−1)·m^(−1))at 800℃ were the lowest,which was mainly related to the formation of“glaze”layer on the coating surface at high temperature.The glaze layer consisted of two parts,which were NiCr_(2)O_(4)oxide film with the ability of interlaminar slip formed in the outer layer and nano-grains existed in the inner layer.Worth mentioning,these nano-grains provided bearing capability while the oxide film was vital to reduce wear rate and friction coefficient.As the ambient temperature increased,many hard oxides were produced on the wear scars,including NiO,Cr_(2)O_(3),MoO_(3),and Mo_(2)C.They can improve tribological and mechanical properties of NiCrWMoCuCBFe coating at a wide temperature range.

Tribological Properties of Self-lubricating Laminated Ceramic Materials

In order to improve the tribological properties of ceramic composites, Al2O3/TiC-Al2O3/ TiC/CaF2 self-lubricating laminated ceramic composites were prepared by vacuum hot pressing sintering. Experiments were conducted to get mechanical properties and the friction and wear properties were also measured with friction and wear tester. The worn surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope （SEM） and energy dispersion spectrum （EDS）. The wear resistance properties and the self-lubricating effect of ceramic composites were analyzed. Results show that the Al2O3/TiC-Al2O3/TiC/CaF2 self-lubricating laminated ceramic composites layers are well-defined with a higher bonding strength and the mechanical performances are uniform enough to overcome the anisotropy of weak laminated ceramic composites. In addition, the fracture toughness of Al2O3/TiC layers is also improved. Its friction coefficient and wear rates decrease with the increase of rotation speed and load. Al2O3/TiC-Al2O3/TiC/CaF2 self-lubricating laminated ceramic composites have good wear resistance because of the tribofilm formed by the CaF2 solid lubricants. The wear mechanisms of Al2O3/TiC/ CaF2 layers are abrasive wear and Al2O3/TiC layers are adhesive wear.

Temperature-mediated tribological characteristics of 40CrNiMoA steel and Inconel 718 alloy during sliding against Si_(3)N_(4) counterparts

A comparative evaluation of the friction and wear behaviors of 40CrNiMoA steel and Inconel 718 alloy sliding against Si_(3)N_(4) counterparts was conducted over a large temperature range from room temperature(RT)to 800℃.The temperature‐dependent tribological properties associated with the resulting chemical mitigation and structural adaptation of the solid sliding surface were clarified by surface/interface characterizations.The results revealed desirable performance in reducing friction and wear at elevated temperatures,which was associated with the resulting oxide composite filmʹs adaptive lubricating capability,whereas severe abrasive wear occurred at room/ambient temperatures.The oxidative‐abrasive differentials for the two alloys were further discussed by considering the combined effect of temperature and stressed‐shearing conditions.

Effects of Load on Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Mg–Gd–Zn–Zr Alloys

Dry sliding wear tests on as-cast and T6-treated Mg-3Gd-1Zn-0.4Zr（wt%, GZ31K） and Mg-6Gd-1Zn-0.4Zr（wt%, GZ61K） alloys were performed using a ball-on-disk configuration at room temperature. Friction coefficient and wear rate of the alloys were measured under three different applied loads（50 N, 100 N, and 200 N, respectively）. Worn surface morphologies were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope（SEM） coupled with an energy dispersive spectrometer（EDS）. It is found that the friction coefficient of the alloys decreases with increasing load, except the as-cast GZ61 K. The wear rates of the as-cast Mg-Gd-Zn-Zr alloys increase with the increase of the load. However, the wear rates of the T6-treated Mg-Gd-Zn-Zr alloys first increase because of the participation of a large amount of needle-like precipitates, but then decline due to obvious work hardening. The wear mechanisms of abrasion, plastic deformation, oxidation, adhesion and delamination are detected. Abrasion dominates the wear mechanism under the low load; whereas, adhesion is the main wear mechanism under intermediate load, and plastic deformation has great effect on the wear rate under high applied load.

Electric resistance as a sensitive measure for detecting graphene wear during macroscale tribological tests

Super-high mechanical strength and excellent lubrication property at the nanoscale render graphene a promising ultra-thin solid lubricant. However, macroscale friction tests have shown that wear of graphene often occurs resulting in failure of interface lubrication. As graphene coatings are atomically thin, a sensitive and reliable detection method for monitoring wear has been a great challenge to date. In this work, we performed tribological experiments on monolayer graphene on SiO2/Si while simultaneously measuring the in-plane electric resistance of graphene during the sliding tests. Our experiments showed that the electric resistance exhibited a sudden increase signifying the onset of graphene wear well before the macroscale friction increased rapidly. The variation of in-plane electric resistance was found to depend on the wear track length and relative orientation. Longer wear track and wear track perpendicular to the current would typically lead to higher increase in graphene electric resistance. Our work demonstrates that monitoring in-plane electric resistance can be a simple, sensitive and predictive method for detecting graphene wear, which makes it a useful inspecting technique for a wide range of mechanical applications.

Effects of Rare Earth Elements on the Characteristics of Low Temperature Plasma Nitrocarburized Martensitic Stainless Steel

Low temperature plasma nitrocarburizing of 17-4PH martensitic stainless steel was conducted at 430 ℃ with and without rare earth （RE） addition. The microstructure, kinetics, microhardness, wear behavior as well as corrosion resistance of the modified layer were studied by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Vickers microhardness tester, pin-on-disc tribometer and potentiodynamic polarization tests. The results show that the thickness of plasma RE nitrocarburized layer is much thicker than that formed by nitrocarburizing without RE addition. The incorporation of RE does not change the kind of the phases and the nitrocarburized layer consists mainly of nitrogen and carbon expanded martensite （aN）, γ-Fe4N and a-Fe with a trace of CrN phases. The surface microhardness of plasma nitrocarburized layer can be increased by 100 HV after RE addition. Wear resistance of the specimen can be apparently improved by low temperature plasma nitrocarburizing with and without RE addition and without sacrificing its corrosion resistance. Wear reduction effect of low temperature plasma nitrocarburizing with RE addition is better than that of the conventional one.