Tribological Characteristics of AlMgB_(14) and Nanocomposite AIMgB_(14)-TiB_2 Superhard Coatings

摘要

This study investigated the friction and wear characteristics of two super-hard coatings on M2 steel. One was AlMgB_(14), produced by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), and the other was a nanocomposite of AlMgB_(14)-TiB_2, produced by physical vapor deposition (PVD). Tests were conducted under unidirectional and reciprocating sliding against AISI 52100 bearing steel in both dry and oil-lubricated conditions. The AlMgB_(14) coating exhibited an encouraging but short-lived low friction stage (μ = 0.2) in dry sliding. The AlMgB_(14)-TiB_2 coating reduced the wear rates by one order of magnitude relative to the M2 steel and three orders of magnitude for the counterface in dry sliding. This nanocomposite coating also demonstrated significant extension (>2.5X) of the low friction (non-scuffing) stage when sliding under starved lubrication.