The analysis of the chemical structure and properties of ceramic surface films in friction using scanning electron microscopy, auger electron spectroscopy and microregion X-ray diffraction

Abstract

In this paper, the chemical surface film of a plasma-sprayed ceramic coating (Cr 3C 2, Al 2O 313%TiO 2), formed by the reaction of the additives, calcium, sulphur and phosphorus, with a ceramic surface at high temperature, has been studied using scanning electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy and microregion X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the surface film topography, Auger electron spectroscopy was used to analyse the change in the surface film elements with film depth and microregion X-ray diffraction was used to identify the chemical structure of the film. The results show that microregion X-ray diffraction is an effective means of studying the film structure; the ceramic surface, which is generally inert, can react with the additives, calcium, sulphur and phosphorus, to form chemical surface films which effectively decrease friction and wear.