Tribological performance of iron- and nickel-base self-lubricating claddings containing metal sulfides at high temperature

Abstract

Iron-based coatings with the incorporation of solid lubricants have been prepared by means of laser cladding, in an effort to control friction and decrease tool wear at high temperatures during metal forming applications. The choice of a Fe-based powder has been considered advantageous, as it can lead to decreased costs compared to nickel-based claddings previously studied by the authors, in addition to having a lower environmental impact. In particular, the incorporation of transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS2 as precursors leads to the encapsulation of silver in Fe-based self-lubricating claddings, resulting in a uniform distribution of the soft metal across the thickness of the coating. Subsequent tribological evaluation of the claddings at high temperatures shows that the addition of lubricious compounds leads to lower friction at room temperature and significantly decreased wear up to 600 °C compared to the unmodified iron-based reference alloy, although higher than similar self-lubricating Ni-based claddings. In order to cast light into these observed differences, the corresponding microstructures, phase composition, and self-lubricating mechanisms have been studied and compared for Fe- and Ni-based claddings having both of them the addition of silver and MoS2. The results suggest a key role of the formation of protective tribolayers on the counter body during high temperature sliding contact. Additional simulation of the phase evolution during solidification reveals that the formation of different chromium- and nickel-based metal sulfides in Fe- and Ni-claddings during laser cladding by the decomposition of MoS2 plays a key role in determining their tribological behaviour at high temperatures.