Tribological Behavior of Oil-Lubricated Laser Textured Surfaces in Conformal Flat and Point Contacts

Abstract

The effects of laser surface texturing (LST), which involves the creation of an array of microdimples on the surface with laser, on friction and wear behavior of oil-lubricated steel surfaces were evaluated. Tests were conducted in unidirectional sliding in both the conformal and non-conformal contact configurations with a pin-on-disc test rig using fully formulated synthetic oil lubricant. In conformal contact, LST expanded the operating conditions for mixed and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes to higher loads and slower speeds i.e. the Stribeck curve was shifted to the left. LST was also observed to reduce the magnitude of friction coefficients in the boundary regime. For the non-conformal contact configuration, LST produced more wear on the rubbing counterface compared to untreated surfaces. This also accelerated the run-in process in the tests with LST treated surfaces.