Comparative Study of Unprotected vs. Protected Surfaces Using an Innovative Process for Applying Solid Lubricants to Reduce Friction and Wear

Abstract

Two tribocouples were compared neat vs. treated with Induratec™. The tribocouples, tested under dry sliding conditions via a pin-on-disc tribometer, were 52100 steel ball on 52100 steel disc and 8620 steel pin on C67300 bronze disc. Comparisons of coefficient of friction and wear coefficient, K (mm3/N m) are presented. For the 52100 tribocouple two test conditions were completed, a 9.8 N load at 0.75 m/s and a 29.4 N load at 2.0 m/s. The coefficient of friction, for the treated samples compared to the untreated samples, was reduced by 74% for the lower load and speed condition and by 79% for the higher load and speed condition. For the lower load and speed test condition, the wear coefficient was reduced by a factor of 55 and for the higher load and speed condition the wear coefficient was reduced by a factor of 887. For the 8620 steel pin on C67300 bronze disc, two test conditions were completed, a 9.8 N load at 2.5 m/s sliding speed and a 19.6 N load also at 2.5 m/s sliding speed. The treated surface had a 42% lower coefficient of friction at the 9.8 N load and a 57% lower coefficient of friction at the 19.6 N load. The treated tribocouple wear coefficient was reduced by a factor of 600 for the 9.8 N load and by a factor of 1733 for the 19.6 N load.