FORMATION OF MODERN BEARING SURFACES BY CERAMIC COATING DEPOSITION FOR MICRO-BEARING AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

摘要

The application of ceramic coatings on metallic materials represents a promising alternative to ball bearing manufacture. The compositional, structural and morphological properties of Al_2O_3, AlN and nitride/oxide AlN/Al_2O_3 ceramic coatings deposited on titanium and stainless steel alloys were examined by XRD, XPS, SEM, AFM methods. Abrasion tests were also conducted by a micro-scale abrasion tester. A correlation between the mechanical properties and coating structure was observed. The bilayer AlN/Al_2O_3 coatings demonstrate the minimal values of the total surface abrasive wear and increased wear resistance in comparison with uncoated substrates and monolayer Al_2O_3, AlN coatings. The enhancement of the mechanical properties of the coatings is very important for the tribological performance of ceramic coated ball bearing devices.