Combined Effect of a Laser Cladded Coating and Surface Texture on Tribological Performance Under Dry Sliding and Starved Lubrication

Fe-based alloy coating was laser cladded on gray cast iron using Ni-Cu alloy as an intermediate layer. The cross section of the laser cladded coating was characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and a Vickers hardness tester. A microdimple texture was created by reciprocating an electrolyte jet with prefabricated mask (REJP) machining on an Fe-based alloy coating. The tribological performances of untextured and textured coatings were examined through interrupted wear tests using an in-house developed reciprocating ball-on-plate tribotester under dry sliding and starved lubricated conditions. The results show that the presence of microdimple edges in the nonconformal contact region has a detrimental effect on the friction performance under dry sliding. However, the microdimples can be beneficial for trapping debris to preserve a smoother contacting surface and thus a lower volume wear track compared to untextured coatings. Due to its role in oil reservoirs and debris entrapment, the microdimple textured coating can maintain a low friction coefficient for a long time period after lubricant oil cutoff and results in a lower volume wear track under starved lubrication. Graphical abstract

Test and evaluation method for greases in grease-sealing rotary shaft seals

Grease-lubricated sealing systems show starved lubrication much more frequently than oil lubricated sealing systems. Different greases provide different lubricity to the sealing system. A test and evaluation method was developed that allows to assess the lubricity of different greases and to compare them with each other. The test and evaluation method consists of a test run and a subsequent analysis of the test components. The test run comprises a 24-hour speed collective and is performed on a test rig using real sealing system components. For the evaluation method, eight criteria are analysed, which are rated suitable for evaluating starved lubrication. The criteria include parameters measured during the test run, such as friction torque and temperature, as well as parameters inspected in the subsequent examination of all test components. All criteria are assessed and combined to an overall score, that allows to directly compare different greases with each other. The test and evaluation method developed reveals significant differences between 23 greases examined. Thus, the lubricity of greases in sealing systems can be analysed and compared much more quickly than in the past. Thanks to the rapid testing and focused evaluation of the relevant criteria, greases can be tested much more cost- and resource-efficiently than before.

Effect of vein-bionic surface textures on the tribological behavior of cylindrical roller thrust bearing under starved lubrication

To reveal the effect of vein-bionic surface textures on the tribological behavior of cylindrical roller thrust bearings (CRTBs) under starved lubrication, six kinds of leaves (Forsythia, Clausena lansiu, Ash, Purple leaf plum, Pipal and Apricot) were chose and their simplified patterns were fabricated on the shaft washers of CRTBs using laser surface texturing. The coefficients of friction (COFs) of vein-bionic textured bearings were measured using a vertical universal wear test rig. Their mass losses and worn surfaces were also characterized. The results show that: There is important influence of the symmetry of vein-bionic textures and the number of secondary veins on the friction and wear properties of vein-bionic textured CRTBs under starved lubrication. Compared to the smooth group, the COFs and mass losses of vein-bionic textured bearings are all reduced. Among all groups, the tribological performance of bearings with a pattern inspired from Ash is the best. Its wear loss is reduced by 16.23% and its COF is reduced by 15.79%. This work would provide a valuable reference for the raceway design and optimization of roller rolling element bearings.

Starved lubrication analysis for the top ring and cylinder liner of a two-stroke marine diesel engine considering the thermal effect of friction

The thermal effect of friction plays an important role in friction pairs working under heavy load and starved lubrication conditions, such as the piston ring and cylinder liner (PRCL) system of two-stroke marine diesel engines. Friction heat will degrade the lubrication and increase the scuffing risk. In this study, considering the thermal effect of friction, the tribological characteristics of the top ring and cylinder liner of a two-stroke marine diesel engine under starved lubrication are studied. It is found that the temperature rise due to friction is significant and has a strong influence on the tribological characteristics of the PRCL system. Moreover, based on the orthogonal test method, the effects of groove textures under different oil supplies are also explored. Only well-designed groove textures can reduce friction and wear at the same time.

Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Fe-Based Laser Cladding Layer on Nodular Cast Iron for Surface Remanufacturing

In this study, a cladding layer and nitriding layer were prepared on nodular cast iron, to provide guidance for remanufacturing of nodular cast iron. Their microstructure and composition and the tribological properties under dry and starved lubrication conditions were studied. Meanwhile, the contact stresses at different friction stages were simulated through the finite element method. The micro-hardness of the cladding layer and nitriding layer were 694 HV0.5 and 724.5 HV0.5, which were 4 times and 4.2 times higher than that of the substrate. For dry friction conditions, the wear resistance of the cladding layer and nitriding layer were 113.2 times and 65.5 times that of the substrate. For starved lubrication conditions, the friction coefficients of the cladding layer and nitriding layer were lower than that of the substrate. In addition, their average friction coefficients and wear resistance were gradually reduced with the increase in load. Contact simulation showed that the maximum equivalent stress gradually increased with the friction coefficient during the dry friction, and the peak value of von Mises stress on the nitriding layer was larger than that of the cladding layer, and the nitriding layer was more likely to yield and peel off.

Influence of Groove Dimensions on the Tribological Behavior of Textured Cylindrical Roller Thrust Bearings under Starved Lubrication

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal the friction and wear performance of grooves textured cylindrical roller thrust bearings with different groove dimensions under starved lubrication. Design/methodology/approach The groove dimensions include: width of grooves (WOG, 50 µm, 100 µm and 150 µm), depth of grooves (DPOG, 7 µm, 11 µm and 15 µm) as well as groove deflection angle (GDA, 45°). A fiber laser marking system was used to prepare groove patterns on the raceways of shaft washers. The friction and wear properties of grooves textured bearings were researched through a vertical universal wear test rig using a customized roller bearing tribo-pair under starved lubrication. Static finite element analyses were conducted to reveal their surface stresses. Through the comprehensive comparison and analyses, the influence mechanism of grooves on the tribological behavior of cylindrical roller thrust bearings was proposed and discussed. Findings When grooves textured bearings run under starved lubrication, their average coefficients of friction (COFs) and wear losses are all significantly reduced and much lower than those of smooth group. The influence of DPOG on the COF curves is significant, while the influence of WOG on the COF curves is a little weak. The influence of groove dimensions on the surface stresses of grooves textured bearings is weak, whether the WOG or DPOG. In this work, when the WOG is 100 µm and the DPOG is 15 µm, its average COF and wear loss are both the lowest, 0.0066 and 0.61 mg, respectively. Compared with the data of smooth group, its friction coefficient is reduced by 75.3% and its mass loss is reduced by 95.8%, showing a significant improvement in this condition. Originality/value This work can provide a valuable reference for the raceway design and reliability optimization of rolling element bearings.