Tribological Performance of Fe67B33 Alloy Prepared by a Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis Technique

Abstract

A bulk Fe67B33 alloy was prepared by a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis technique that is convenient, low in cost, and capable of being scaled up for tailoring the bulk materials. The Fe67B33 alloy is composed of dendrites with the t-Fe2B phase and eutectic matrix with the α-Fe and t-Fe2B phases. The content of the dendrite t-Fe2B is above 80 vol.%. The compressive fractured strength and Vickers microhardness are 3400 MPa and 12.4 GPa, respectively. The tribological performance of the Fe67B33 alloy is investigated under dry sliding and water lubricant against Si3N4 ceramic ball. The wear rates of the Fe67B33 alloy are of the magnitude of 10−5 to 10−4 mm3/m under water lubricant. It is lower than that of the Fe67B33 alloy under dry sliding (10−4 mm3/m). But both the friction coefficients are almost identical. Oxide layers form in both environments via different tribochemical mechanisms, which led to significant differences in wear behavior.