An investigation of tribological properties of CN and TiCN coatings

Today the tool industry on a worldwide basis uses hard, wear-resistant, and low-friction coatings produced by different processes such as electrochemical or electroless methods, spray technologies, thermochemical, chemical-vapor deposition (CVD), and physical vapor deposition (PVD). In the current work, two different coatings, nitrocarburized (CN) and titanium carbonitride (TiCN) on M2-grade tool steel, were prepared by commercial diffusion and PVD techniques, respectively. Properties such as thickness, roughness, and hardness were characterized using a variety of techniques, including glow-discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A crossed-cylinders wear-testing machine was used to investigate the performances of both coatings under lubrication. The effect of coatings on the performance of lubricants under a range of wear-test conditions was also examined. Degradation of lubricants during tribological testing was explored by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Novel halogen-free chelated orthoborate-phosphonium ionic liquids : synthesis and tribophysical properties

We report on the synthesis, characterisation, and physical and tribological properties of halogen-free ionic liquids based on various chelated orthoborate anions with different phosphonium cations, both without halogen atoms in their structure. Important physical properties of the ILs including glass transition temperatures, density, viscosity and ionic conductivity were measured and are reported here. All of these new halogen-free orthoborate ionic liquids (hf-BILs) are hydrophobic and hydrolytically stable liquids at room temperature. As lubricants, these hf-BILs exhibit considerably better antiwear and friction reducing properties under boundary lubrication conditions for steel–aluminium contacts as compared with fully formulated (15W-50 grade) engine oil. Being halogen free these hf-BILs offer a more environmentally benign alternative to ILs being currently developed for lubricant applications.

Characterization and tribological performance of Cu-based intermetallic layers

Fluidized bed reactor chemical vapor deposition (FBR-CVD) has been used to enrich the surface of oxygen free high conductivity (OFHC) copper with titanium, silicon and aluminum. This technique enables the production of coherent and adherent intermetallic surface layers of uniform thickness and high hardness. The characterization of the coatings was performed using backscatter scanning electron microscopy (BS-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES) and micro-hardness. The tribological properties of the coatings in dry sliding contact with steel were evaluated by pin-on-disc wear testing.

Improvement of the biomedical properties of titanium using SMAT and thermal oxidation

Titanium and its alloys are excellent candidates for biomedical implant. However, they exhibit relatively poor tribological properties. In this study, a two-step treatment including surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) combined with thermal oxidation process has been developed to improve the tribological properties and biocompatibility of Ti. Ti after two-step treatment shows excellent wear-resistance and biocompatibility among all Ti samples, which can be ascribed to the highest surface energy, well crystallinity of rutile layer on its surface. Overall, the two-step treatment is a prospective method to produce excellent biomedical Ti materials.

Synthesis and physical property characterisation of phosphonium ionic liquids based on P(O)2(OR)2− and P(O)2(R)2− anions with potential application for corrosion mitigation of magnesium alloys

Phosphonium cation based ionic liquids (ILs) have become of interest due to their unique chemical and electrochemical stability as well as their promising tribological properties. At the same time, interest has also grown in the use of phosphate and phosphinate based ionic liquids for corrosion protection of reactive metals. In this work we describe the synthesis and characterization of six novel ionic liquids based on the tetraalkylphosponium cation coupled with organophosphate and organophosphinate anions and their sulfur analogues. The conductivity and viscosity of these ILs has been measured and discussed in terms of the nature of the interactions, effect of anion basicity and the extent of ionic character. The reaction of the IL with a ZE41 magnesium aerospace alloy surface is also demonstrated.

A comparison of phosphorus and fluorine containing IL lubricants for steel on aluminium

Ionic liquids have been shown to be highly effective lubricants for a steel on aluminium system. This work shows that the chemistry of the anion and cation are critical in achieving maximum wear protection. The performance of the ILs containing a diphenylphosphate (DPP) anion all showed low wear, as did some of the tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate (FAP) and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (NTf2) anion containing ILs. However, in the case of the FAP and NTf2 based systems, a cation dependence was observed, with relatively poor wear resistance obtained in the case of an imidazolium FAP and two pyrrolidinium NTf2 salts, probably due to tribocorrosion caused by the fluorine reaction with the aluminium substrate. The systems exhibiting poor performance generally had a lower viscosity, which also impacts on their tribological properties. Those ILs that exhibited low wear were shown to have formed protective tribofilms on the aluminium alloy surface.

A biocompatible ionic liquid as an antiwear additive for biodegradable lubricants

A biocompatible ionic liquid, tributyl(methyl)phosphonium diphenylphosphate, P1444DPP (IL1) was investigated as an antiwear additive and compared against Amine Phosphate (AP), one of the commonly used conventional antiwear additives in biodegradable lubricants. IL1 showed excellent antiwear performance, using a pin-on-disc tribometer, when blended in biodegradable base stocks. The steel balls after the test were analyzed using SEM-EDS techniques which confirmed the presence of phosphorous. The tribological properties under reciprocating conditions were also carried out using Optimol SRV oscillating friction and wear tester and the steel discs were observed under Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), to show the buildup of tribofilm formed by IL1. The thickness of the lubricant film was confirmed by Elastohydrodynamic (EHD) Ultra Thin Film Measurement System. It was observed that IL1 has a better film forming ability than AP. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Study on the influence of li-grease EP and AW performance by exfoliated MoS2 nanosheet additive

Tribological behavior of de-agglomerated and exfoliated active molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets as additives in lithium based grease was investigated. MoS2 nanosheets were prepared by mechano-chemical process in a planetary ball mill with selective organic molecules particularly lecithin (a source of phosphorus (exfoliating/stabilizing agent)) along with antiwear additives (ZDDP). Tribological evolutions show significant influence of MoS2 nanosheets on the friction coefficient, WSD (wear scar diameter) and extreme pressure properties of lithium based grease. The elemental composition analysis of the wear track shows the presence of Mo, S, and P on the surface protective layer, revealing the formation of a tribofilm containing MoS2 nanosheets along with phosphorus based moieties.

Combined nano- and macrotribology studies of titania lubrication using the oil-ionic liquid mixtures

The lubrication of titania surfaces using a series of ionic liquid (IL)-hexadecane mixtures has been probed using nanoscale atomic force microscopy (AFM) and macroscale ball-on-disk tribometer measurements. The IL investigated is trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate, which is miscible with hexadecane in all proportions. At both length scales, the pure IL is a much more effective lubricant than pure hexadecane. At low loads, which are comparable to common industrial applications, the pure IL reduces the friction by 80% compared to pure hexadecane; while the IL-hexadecane mixtures lubricate the titania surface as effectively as the pure IL and wear decreases with increasing IL concentration. At high test loads the adsorbed ion boundary layer is displaced leading to surface contact and high friction, and wear is pronounced for all IL concentrations. Nonetheless, the IL performs better than a traditional zinc-dialkyl-dithophosphate (ZDDP) antiwear additive at the same concentration.

The biomedical application of Ti after severe plastic deformation and thermal oxidation, especially the friction and wear properties of Ti

Surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT), a novel surface severe plastic deformation method, was carried out for titanium (Ti) to create a gradient-structured Ti (SMAT Ti). The tribological behaviour was studied under different loads and dry sliding conditions. The results showed that the deformation layer of SMAT Ti was about 160 lm. The friction and wear results showed that the wear resistance of SMAT Ti was enhanced compared to the coarse-grained (CG) counterpart. SMAT Ti showed abrasive wear under 1 and 5 N, and exhibited abrasive and adhesive wear under 2 N. While CG Ti showed abrasive and adhesive wear under 1–2 N, and exhibited abrasive wear under 5 N for the work hardening effects.

Environment friendly hydraulic lubricants – properties & performance.

 The present study aims to undertake research to improve the properties of vegetable oil based biodegradable lubricants for hydraulic oil applications. Different approaches were explored and adopted to investigate the thermo-oxidative stability, tribological property and corrosion behaviour of biodegradable basestocks as per the ISO 15380 specification.