The tribological behavior of diamond-like carbon coatings (DLC) strongly depends on the chemical nature of the test environment. The present study proposes to explore the influence of water vapor and ...oxygen on the friction behavior of a hydrogenated DLC coating exhibiting ultralow friction in ultrahigh vacuum (friction coefficient below 0.01). Using a UHV tribometer, reciprocating pin-on-flat friction tests were performed in progressively increasing or decreasing partial pressures of pure oxygen and pure water vapor. The maximum gaseous pressures of oxygen and water vapor were 60 hPa and 25 hPa (1 hPa = 100 Pa), respectively, the second value corresponding to a relative humidity (RH) of 100% at room temperature. It was found that, for the pressure range explored, oxygen does not change the ultralow friction behavior of DLC observed in UHV. Conversely, water vapor drastically changes the friction coefficient at pressures above 0.5 hPa (RH = 2%), from about 0.01 to more than 0.1. Electron energy loss spectroscopy and in situ Auger electron spectroscopy have been performed to elucidate the friction mechanisms responsible for the tribological behaviors observed with the two different gaseous environments. In all cases no significant oxidation has been observed either inside the wear scars or in the wear debris particles. Ultralow friction is systematically associated with a homogeneous carbon-based transfer film. The higher friction observed at partial pressure of water vapor higher than 0.5 hPa, is associated with a thinner transfer film. Consequently friction seems to be controlled by the transfer film whose kinetics of formation strongly depends on the partial pressure of water vapor.
De nos jours, afin de réduire le frottement et l'usure dans les moteurs thermiques et par voie de conséquence les émissions polluantes ainsi que la consommation énergétique, des revêtements APS ...(Atmospheric Plasma Spray) sont appliqués sur les chemises des cylindres. Le MoDTC (Di-ThioCarbamate de Molybdène), est un additif organométallique largement utilisé dans la lubrification automobile pour réduire le frottement grâce à la formation sur les surfaces frottantes de feuillets de MoS2. Ce travail de thèse porte sur l’étude de la réaction tribochimique du MoDTC avec le revêtement TiO2 APS dans des conditions de lubrification mixte / limite. Des poudres de TiO2 de taille micrométrique ont été utilisées pour obtenir un revêtement APS de TiO2 de 70 µm d'épaisseur. Différents tribomètres ont été utilisés pour effectuer des essais de frottement en présence d’une huile de base contenant du MoDTC. Les résultats obtenus pour un contact acier / TiO2 APS lubrifié avec du MoDTC présente une réduction significative du frottement par rapport au contact acier / acier (contact de référence). Les analyses de surface montrent que le tribofilm formé sur le plan de TiO2 APS est composé de MoS2 et de MoO3 tandis qu’il est constitué d’oxysulfure de molybdène, de MoS2 et de MoO3 sur le plan de référence en acier. De plus, les résultats indiquent que des phases Magneli résistantes à l'usure sont formées sur la surface du plan de TiO2 réduisant ainsi l'usure du contact lorsque celui-ci est uniquement lubrifié avec l'huile de base. L'impact de divers paramètres tels que la rugosité, la température d'essai, la pression de contact, la concentration en MoDTC et le remplacement des billes en acier par des billes en céramique sur le comportement tribologique du TiO2 APS a également été étudié. Les résultats ont été comparés avec ceux obtenus dans les mêmes conditions avec un contact acier / acier de référence et révèlent que le coefficient de frottement est toujours plus faible dans le cas des contacts impliquant un revêtement de TiO2 APS. Des résultats similaires à ceux obtenus avec le TiO2 APS (en termes de comportement tribologique et de composition chimique du tribofilm) ont été obtenus avec des nanoparticules de TiO2 mélangées dans l’huile de base avec du MoDTC dans le cas d'un contact acier / acier de référence. Dans les deux cas, une décomposition complète de MoDTC conduisant à la formation de MoS2 a été observée. Un phénomène de tribocatalyse a été suggéré comme pouvant être le mécanisme responsable de la décomposition du MoDTC en présence de matériaux à base de TiO2 comme le revêtement TiO2 APS et les nanoparticules de TiO2.
Nowadays to reduce friction and wear as well as gas emission and oil consumption of the passenger car engines, Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) coatings are used on cylinder liner. MoDTC (Molybdenum Di-Thiocarbamate), organometallic friction modifier has been previously used to reduce friction by formation of layered molybdenum disulphide flakes. This study focuses on tribochemical interaction of MoDTC with TiO2 APS coating under mixed / boundary lubrication conditions. Fused and crushed micron sized powders were used to obtain a 70 µm thick TiO2 coating. Various tribometers were used to carry out tribotests in presence of lubricant containing MoDTC. Steel / TiO2 APS contact showed significant friction reduction than steel / reference steel contact. It was shown that the tribofilm is composed of MoS2 and MoO3 on TiO2 APS flats while it is composed of Mo-oxysulphide, MoS2 and MoO3 on reference steel flats. It was shown that wear resistant Magneli phases are formed on the surface of TiO2 APS disc, decreasing wear when the contact was lubricated only with base oil. Impact of various parameters like roughness, test temperature, contact pressure, concentration of MoDTC and change of counterpart materials from steel balls to ceramic balls, on the tribological behavior of TiO2 APS was also studied. Results obtained were compared with contacts involving reference steel and it was confirmed that friction coefficient was always lower in case of contacts involving TiO2 APS coating. Similar tribological results and chemistry were obtained for TiO2 nanoparticles blended with MoDTC in case of steel / reference steel contact. Both the cases, TiO2 APS and TiO2 nanoparticles showed complete decomposition of MoDTC to form MoS2. Tribocatalysis was suggested as the mechanism responsible for complete decomposition of MoDTC in case of TiO2 based materials like TiO2 APS coating and TiO2 nanoparticles
Some key directions of study of the friction and wear of solids under conditions of boundary lubrication by an adsorption layer are analyzed. The ideas and methods of the studies are considered in ...sequence starting from works of the founder of the boundary lubrication concept W. Hardy and proceeding to the results of the outstanding scientists of the following generations—F.P. Bowden, D. Tabor, B.V. Deryagin, A.S. Akhmatov, G.I. Fuks, R.M. Matveevskii, and others—and then to those of contemporary researchers. Tribochemical aspects of lubrication by an adsorption layer are discussed. Special attention is paid to attempts to develop physical and mathematical models of the boundary lubrication process.
The purpose of this paper is to present experimental research work seeking a better understanding of triboemission and its role in tribochemistry. A new instrument is described for measuring the ...intensity and retarded-energy spectra of electrons and ions triboemitted from various sliding contacts. This instrument was designed to accommodate a variety of contact geometries and it features a wide range of applied loads and sliding speeds under high vacuum or controlled atmosphere conditions. The particle-measurement technique employs a channel electron multiplier in the pulse-counting mode. Experimental results are reported on triboemission intensity from sliding contact of diamond on three related materials: alumina, single crystal sapphire (Al
2O
3), and aluminum. Significant negatively-charged particle triboemission was observed from diamond-on-alumina and diamond-on-sapphire contacts. The retarded-energy spectrum of the negative-particle triboemission also was measured. Emission of positively-charged particles was found to be of relatively low intensity. Lower levels of negatively-charged triboemission, as compared to those from alumina and sapphire, were found from diamond-on-aluminum. These results are discussed with a focus on the possible role of charged particle emission in tribochemical processes and, in particular, on tribopolymerization as an effective mechanism of ceramic lubrication.
Formation of tribochemical layers and microstructural surface alterations during mild reciprocating sliding wear of AISI 52100 steel were studied under boundary lubricated conditions using a ...non-additive hydrocarbon lubricant. At the onset of relative motion no friction-induced chemical processes could be detected due to the protecting natural oxide film on the contacting steel surfaces. After a few sliding cycles, chromium carbides were pulled out of the ball surface leading to removal of the protecting layers and to the initiation of fast tribochemical reactions on the contact area. After about 1000 sliding cycles, so-called white layers developed on the ball surface showing greater carbon contents and hardness than the bulk material. This white layer formation could be attributed to high local pressures and subsequent grooving of the surface by wear debris. It was shown that the lubricant acted as a carbon donor owing to the adsorption of cracked hydrocarbon molecules on the steel surface. Adsorbed carbon atoms diffused into the bulk material and promoted the mechanically-induced phase transformation to the white layers.
The viscosity of motor oil gets lower in order to decrease resistance at region of the fluid lubrication. On the other hands, this causes increasing of friction at the boundary lubrication region. ...For this reason, it is required to use a friction modifier to reduce the boundary friction. MoDTC is especially used as friction modifier. Although the decomposition mechanism of MoDTC has been presumed, it is considered only in the case of metal, not hard coatings. So, it is required to understand the effects of hard coatings to friction in motor oils. We tried to clarify the surface and tribofilm changes depending on the kinds of hard coatings by SEM-EDX, TEM and so on. As a result of experiment of hard coatings against metal, we clarified the process as follows when friction of CrN reduces. In the early stage of friction, Fe of the opposite metal transfers to CrN. Mo2S2O2 intermediate product which is formed by MoDTC decomposition is formed on CrN divided into Fe oxide and Mo sulfide. At this time, crystal orientation between Fe oxide and CrN is matching because the lattice constant of Fe oxide is twice that of CrN. These results show that the crystal structure of hard coatings is important for formation of stable interface. And this newly knowledge is necessary to achieve low friction for systems using hard coatings.
The origin of ultralow friction and high wear resistance in ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films is still under active debate because of the perplexed tribochemistry at the sliding interface. ...Herein, we report a comparative study on surface topography and nanoscale friction of tribofilms, in wear tracks of two sets of UNCD films having different structural characteristics. Despite both the films display ultralow coefficient of friction, the UNCD films grown under Ar atmosphere (UNCDAr) exhibit a high wear resistance while the wear rate is higher for the films grown in N2 (UNCDN). Frictional force microscopic (FFM) investigations clearly reveal the manifestation of shear induced graphitization on both the films. However, the wear track of UNCDAr films have a large network of a few layer graphene (FLG) structures over the amorphous carbon tribofilms while only isolated clusters of FLG structures are present in the wear track of UNCDN films. Here, we demonstrate the direct micro-/nanoscopic evidence for the formation of large network of ~ 0.8 - 6 nm thick FLG structures, as a consequence of shear induced graphitization and discuss their decisive role in ultralow friction and wear.