An easy-processing organic-inorganic self-lubricating composite coating with high corrosion resistance

Abstract

Organic coatings have good mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance, but their poor tribological properties limit their application on transmission components, such as bearings. The purpose of this work is to fabricate an easy-processing organic-inorganic composite coating with self-lubrication and high corrosion resistance. Moderate amount of fillers of graphite, SiC and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were added. Their compatibility with the based resin as well as their influence on tribological, corrosion and mechanical properties of the composite coating were investigated. Results indicate that the addition of graphite and SiC is able to reduce friction coefficient and wear rate to a large extent. However, their agglomeration introduces a large number of pores, which decreases adherence strength, impact resistance and corrosion resistance of the resin-based coating. Due to the high flexibility of PTFE, its addition substantially improves compactness. With a proper ratio between the fillers of graphite, SiC and PTFE, the organic-inorganic composite coating possesses a high corrosion resistance, adherence strength and impact resistance. Moreover, its friction coefficient and wear rate are dramatically reduced to 0.07 and 3.22 × 10−5 mm3 N−1 m−1, respectively.