Friction and wear in silicon nitride-steel and cemented carbide-steel pairs in lubricated sliding

摘要

Friction and wear tests between a stationary block and a rotating ring under high contact pressure of about 200 MPa were carried out at room temperature under lubrication with a light mineral oil at a sliding distance of 500 m. The block was silicon nitride and cemented carbide, and the ring was bearing steel. The effect of phosphorus and sulphur contained in the mineral oil on the friction, the roughness of the worn surface and the wear of the steel ring is discussed in relation to both pairs. Sulphur was effective in reducing the coefficient of friction of the cemented carbide block-steel ring pair, while phosphorus was successful in decreasing the wear of the steel ring paired with the silicon nitride block. The surface analysis of the steel ring using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the peak intensities of sulphur or phosphorus beneath the surface depend upon the material of the counterpart, silicon nitride or cemented carbide blocks.