The influence of different metallic counterparts on the tribological performance of nc-CrC/GLC in seawater

Abstract

In order to discuss the wear situation of nc-CrC/GLC film sliding against different counterparts in seawater, the nc-CrC/GLC film was fabricated by unbalance magnetron sputtering technique on silicon wafer and 304L stainless steel. The SEM, Raman, TEM were used to measure the morphologies, components and microstructures of nc-CrC/GLC film. The nanoindentation test was used to acquire the hardness and elastic modulus of nc-CrC/GLC film. The tribological performances of nc-CrC/GLC film sliding against different metallic counterparts including Al, Ti, H62, GCr15 in seawater were comparatively investigated by a reciprocating tribo-meter and the tribological mechanisms were highly analyzed via Hertz contact theory. The tribo-chemical products, worn surfaces of nc-CrC/GLC film and metallic counterpart were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that the hardness and elastic modulus of nc-CrC/GLC film were about 14.09±1.32 and 169.16±13.39GPa, respectively The friction coefficients of nc-CrC/GLC film sliding against H62, GCr15, Ti, Al counterparts were about 0.18, 0.135, 0.085 and 0.06, respectively. Meanwhile, it was found that the wear rate of nc-CrC/GLC-Al was the lowest value of 0.23×10−7mm3/Nm, while the wear rate of nc-CrC/GLC-H62 was the highest value of 1.79×10−7mm3/Nm. The tribological performances of nc-CrC/GLC film would be improved by chosen an appropriate counterpart. The nc-CrC/GLC-Al showed low friction and wear in mixed lubrication, and the wear mechanism was regarded as adhesive and corrosion wear. Whereas the nc-CrC/GLC-Ti and nc-CrC/GLC-GCr15 were known as corrosion and three-body abrasive wear, the nc-CrC/GLC-H62 showed a hybrid mechanism of adhesive, abrasive and corrosion wear.