Friction and Wear Properties of WC/C Nano-Scale Multilayer Coatings on Technical Surfaces

摘要

This article reports on the tribological performance of a WC/C multilayer coating with a periodicity WC/C = 15/5 nm deposited on bearing steel substrates. These substrates were initially polished to achieve different RMS roughness values ranging from 15 to 900 nm. Tribological tests were performed using a precision reciprocating microtribometer under ambient conditions with a steel ball as a counter-sample. The worn sample surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The results indicate that the combined effects of the real contact area, lubricating effect of the coating, as well as the formation of a transfer layer and its subsequent removal, all contribute to a dependence of surface roughness on the coefficient of friction (CoF).