Reduction In Wear Rate Research Articles

Enhancing the Tribological Characteristics of Epoxy Composites by the Use of Three-Dimensional Carbon Fibers and Cobalt Oxide Nanowires

In this paper, the results of our research were presented into the sliding wear behaviors of reinforced epoxy composites made with 3D networked carbon fibers ornamented with nanowires of cobalt oxides (NWRs@CFs). Composites are made using the cast-in-place method. Under different normal loads and sliding velocities, these composites' wear and friction coefficient performances are assessed. Tests were performed at 400 rpm spindle speed, 10, 20, and 30 N normal load, and a duration of 300 seconds. Pure epoxy exhibits wear rates of 0.449, 0.481, and 0.501 * 10-5 mm3/Nm at 10, 20, and 30N. Conversely, 3D CFs/epoxy composites exhibit lower wear rates (0.334, 0.360, and 0.390 * 10-5 mm3/Nm) at the same pressure. The epoxy composites of NWRs@CFs wear less, measuring 2.1, 3.5, and 0.4 * 10-5 mm3/Nm under applied loads. The effects of speed on the tribological characteristics were also studied, the friction coefficients for 400, 800, and 600 rpm at 10 N. Pure Epoxy has fraction coefficients of 0.449, 0.494, and 0.552µ at 400, 800, and 600 rpm. In comparison, three-dimensional carbon fibers and epoxy composites show reduced wear rates (0.334, 0.376, and 0.304 µ) under identical loads. Epoxy composites of NWRs@CFs have friction coefficients of 0.261, 0.304, and 0.332µ. Pure epoxy has high wear, indicating less friction resistance.

Development of polymer/carbon nanotubes incorporated sustainable materials for manufacturing of autobrake pad

AbstractAlthough asbestos fiber is used for autobrake pad production due to its heat resistance capacity, it is associated with a challenge of health risk (cancerogenic in nature). This health risk associated with asbestos-based autobrake pads has presented polymeric materials as a better candidate for the application due to their eco-friendliness, lightweight, chemical inertness, easy of processing, etc. However, polymers are associated with low wear and low mechanical properties, which are vital properties for autobrake pads. Therefore, this study developed EP nanocomposites reinforced with a low content of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and eggshell (ES) attached cow bone (CB) particles denoted as (ES@CB) as agro-waste/sustainable materials for the manufacturing of autobrake pads. The hybrid ternary nanocomposites were developed via solution mixing and casting. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the 1-D structure of the CNTs, and relatively spherical shapes of ES and CB particles, and microstructures of the developed nanocomposites. The nanocomposite showed a low coefficient of friction and a reduction in wear rate in the range of 1.14 × 10−4 mm3/Nm for pure EP to 5.45 × 10−6 mm3/Nm for EP/0.4wt%CNTs-10wt%ES@CB nanocomposite, while the elastic modulus and hardness increased from 1.84 GPa and 128.64 MPa for pure EP to 4.41 GPa and 252.88 MPa for EP/0.2wt%CNTs-20wt%ES@CB nanocomposite, respectively. The comparison of the wear response of the developed nanocomposites with the current asbestos-based brake pads show that the developed epoxy nanocomposites from agro-waste materials are potential option for the manufacturing of autobrake pads, which will ensure sustainability, health risk-free, and environmentally friendly.

Construction of core–shell‐structured halloysite nanotubes with TiO2 nanoparticles for ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites with improved wear resistance

AbstractA hybrid of halloysite nanotubes decorated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (HNTs@TiO2) was synthesized by the sol–gel method and then mixed with ultra‐high molecular polyethylene (UHMWPE) by melt compounding to enhance its wear resistance properties. The incorporation of HNTs@TiO2 increased the crystallinity as well as the hardness of UHMWPE nanocomposites, which benefited less prone to plastic deformation during the friction process. In addition, the UHMWPE/HNTs@TiO2 maintained a high ductility character with a slight decrease in tensile strength compared to pure UHMWPE. With the addition of 3 wt% HNTs@TiO2, the UHMWPE nanocomposite achieved a remarkably low friction coefficient of 0.073 and a reduced wear rate of 6.67 × 10−6 mm3/N·m. These values represented a 32.4% decrease in friction coefficient and a 43.9% decrease in wear rate compared to pure UHMWPE. The improvement in wear resistance was due to the dislodged TiO2 and HNTs had good synergistic rolling effects at the counterface. Furthermore, the wear scan morphology observation revealed that the transferred HNTs@TiO2‐based materials could help to improve the quality of the tribofilms, which alleviated the abrasive wear from the metallic counterpart. This work offers a feasible way to enhance the wear resistance of UHMWPE nanocomposite without sacrificing the high ductility for expanding its engineering applications.Highlights TiO2‐decorated halloysite nanotubes were synthesized by the sol–gel method. The addition of HNTs@TiO2 maintained the high ductility character of UHMWPE. The UHMWPE composite with 3 wt% HNTs@TiO2 had the best wear resistance.

The microstructural characterization and wear behavior of Mg-Zn-Ce alloy with trace Ca addition

This study investigated the effects of Ca addition on microstructural characterization and wear behavior of Mg-2Zn-2Ce alloy. The results show that the formation of sub-micron-sized Ca2Mg6Zn3 phases, grain refinement, and the inhibition of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) were induced by the addition of trace Ca in Mg-2Zn-2Ce alloy. The smoother worn surfaces, higher hardness, lower average coefficient of friction (COF) values, and reduced wear rates were achieved in Mg-Zn-Ce-Ca alloy. Hence, the wear resistance was improved by microstructure modification after alloying Ca. Moreover, the main wear mechanisms of samples were both abrasive wear and delamination wear. However, the addition of trace Ca effectively slighted the degree of delamination wear.

Effect of the heat treatment on the microstructure of carbide tool electrodes for electrical discharge drilling

Abstract Carbide tool electrodes for electrical discharge drilling were subjected to heat treatment at various temperatures and in different atmospheres for the same duration, respectively, in order to reduce the electrical conductivity of the lateral surface. Hardness tests show that the heat treatment does not induce a loss of strength in the electrode body. Microscopic analyses revealed that the lateral surface, characterized by a two-layer structure comprising a surface and a diffusion layer of varying characteristics and morphology, such as surface roughness, degree of coverage, delaminations, or a columnar microstructure, changes. It is revealed that the electrical conductivity is a function of the total layer thickness made up of the thickness of the surface layer and a diffusion layer. The electrical conductivity drops with increasing total layer thickness. In the context of electric discharge drilling tests, it was found that the reduced electrical conductivity leads to a decreased material removal rate and a simultaneously reduced linear electrode wear. Heat treatments ensuring consistent erosion times resulted in a wear rate reduction of the tool electrodes of up to 10 %.

Robust wear performance of graphene-reinforced high entropy alloy composites

The expected excellent tribological performance of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) is rarely achieved due to the absence of self-lubricating ability on the worn surface. In particular, the situation is more challenging in HEAs with face-centered cubic structure because of the inferior yield strength when used in dry sliding conditions. Unlike conventional soft-solid lubricants, which deteriorate the mechanical properties of HEA matrix, in this study we demonstrate in a protocol model alloy that the proper incorporation of few-layer graphene as reinforcement in CoCrFeNiMn can lead to both surface strengthening and lubrication. This is achieved by a partially chemical interface reaction between graphene and HEA via a tunable fabrication process, resulting in a reduction of wear rate and friction coefficient of 86.03% and 23.87%, respectively. As a result of the interfacial in-situ carbide strengthening together with the self-lubrication of graphene, this tailored composite structure also exhibits superior tribological properties over most HEA-based self-lubrication composites. Besides, the subsurface structure evolution and deformation mechanisms that influence the wear resistance are systematically clarified through microscopic exploration and atomistic simulation. The present study presents an effective strategy for the development of innovative HEA composites suitable for safety-critical applications, which overcomes the inherent compromise and achieves exceptional tribological performance, i.e., self-lubricating and anti-wear.

Synergistic performance evaluation of copper–WC-graphene composites: Microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion, and wear behavior under microwave sintering

This study investigates the synergistic performance of copper–WC–graphene composites fabricated using microwave sintering. Optical Microstructure analysis demonstrated a uniform distribution of reinforcing elements (WC and graphene) within the copper matrix across various compositions (Cu - 5 wt % WC, Cu - 5 wt % WC – 2.5 wt % Graphene, Cu - 5 wt % WC – 5 wt % Graphene, Cu - 5 wt % WC – 7.5 wt % Graphene). The SEM images further revealed controlled porosity and crack-free surfaces. Interfacial bond strength among WC, graphene, and copper was evidenced through SEM and wettability results, affirming successful phase integration. Mechanical property assessments unveiled substantial improvements in compressive strength (31.76%) and hardness (67.21%) after incorporating 5 wt % WC and 7.5 wt % graphene. Corrosion resistance was affirmed through minimal weight loss (0.201 mg) in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution over 120 h. Wear tests exhibited a noteworthy 81.25% reduction in wear rate for Cu - 5 wt % WC – 7.5 wt % Graphene, emphasizing enhanced wear resistance. The coefficient of friction is determined to be 0.265. XRD analysis validates the composite's composition, featuring copper, copper oxide, copper carbide, tungsten carbide, and carbon phases.

Atomic-scale simulation of ultrasonic vibration-assisted polishing process for graphene/GaN-layered composites

In the realm of semiconductor materials, the integration of graphene (Gr) and gallium nitride (GaN) has emerged as a promising avenue for enhancing device performance. In this study, a Gr/GaN layered nanocomposite was constructed using molecular dynamics simulation and the LAMMPS code. Diamond abrasive was pressed into the composite at a speed of 50 m/s at 300 K, followed by ultrasonic vibration-assisted polishing on the (0001) plane along the [01‾10] direction. By rigorously exploring various factors such as number of Gr layers, vibration amplitudes, vibration frequencies and grinding speeds, the study elucidates the intricate mechanisms governing material removal and subsurface damage. Key findings reveal optimal processing conditions, including three layers of Gr, an amplitude of 5 Å, a vibration frequency of 80 GHz and a grinding speed of 100 m/s, which result in enhanced material removal rates and improved surface quality. Additionally, the insertion of Gr layers within the GaN matrix demonstrates a remarkable reduction in friction and wear rates, highlighting the potential for enhancing device reliability and performance. This comprehensive investigation not only advances our understanding of ultrasonic vibration-assisted grinding processes but also underscores the transformative impact of Gr/GaN composites in semiconductor device fabrication.

Optimization of tribological characteristics in cryo-treated plastic/graphene oxide modified CFRP via ANN-based predictive modeling for aerospace applications

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) were modified with polycarbonate (PC)/acrylic butadiene styrene (ABS), and silanized graphene oxide deposited (using electrophoretic deposition) carbon fibers. Using Pin-on-Disc (POD) experiment, the wear rate (WR) and coefficient of friction (COF) of modified CFRP samples were determined for room-temperature (RT) and cryo-treated (CT) conditions. For RT samples, the largest reduction in COF compared to NEAT samples was for SGO samples by 25.6%, while the largest reduction in WR was for PC/ABS samples at 42.1%. But for CT samples, the maximum reduction in COF was 32.6% by SGO, and PC/ABS achieved the maximum reduction in WR by 41%. Also, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) found “sample composition” to be the most critical component for volume loss mean, whereas Taguchi analysis refined the parameters and achieved the desired outcome. To predict wear behaviour, the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm, artificial neural network, and linear regression were used. Based on mean squared error (MSE) loss, the Matlab-based Neural Network method performed best, with 0.35% MSE for RT samples and 0.88% for CT samples. This work helps to understand and enhance CFRP materials for wear-resistant applications using optimization techniques.

Robust macroscale superlubricity on carbon-coated metallic surfaces

This paper discusses experimental and computational results of ultralow (near-zero) friction of carbon-coated metallic depositions on substrates of structural steels, Ti, and Ni alloys. The macroscale superlubricity was demonstrated and sustained over several cycles through structurally misoriented carbon coatings on the metallic surfaces. Carbon nanocrystals with variants of graphene footprints were deposited on these metallic surfaces using a novel high temperature biowaste treatment process. The carbon nanocrystals deform, flatten, and coalesce in the wear tracks to form graphitic films leading to a superlubricious coefficient of friction of ∼0.003. A coating life of ∼150,000 cycles with reduced wear rates was obtained on Ni and steel substrates. The experiments were validated with atomistic simulations providing mechanistic insights into the effects of the graphene variants on the observed frictionless conditions. The underlying mechanisms of the coating/substrate interactions contributing to the macroscale superlubricity are elucidated. The implications of the current results are explored for designing robust and low-cost macroscale superlubricious carbon coatings on metallic substrates. Biowaste is a carbon source within a circular economy that uses material recycling to reduce the global carbon footprint.

Enhancing tribo-mechanical and corrosion properties of A383 aluminum matrix composites through stir-cum-squeeze casting with marble dust and hexagonal boron nitride reinforcement

The A383 aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) are prominent automotive materials owing to their low-density yet high-strength nature. However, the conventional casting techniques, exorbitant price, and scarce supply of traditional ceramic reinforcements remain challenging. This research countermeasure the challenges by hybridizing the A383 with industrial marble dust (MD) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) through the stir-cum-squeeze casting technique. A constant proportion (4 wt%) of MD waste and varying proportions of hBN (1.5, 3, 4.5, and 6 wt%) were used to reinforce A383 alloy to improve its physio-mechanical characteristics. Stir-cum-squeeze casting enables homogenous dispersion of reinforcement particles within the matrix, resulting in improved interfacial bonding. Optimal results were achieved for A383 alloy reinforced with 4 wt% of MD and 6 wt% hBN, ensuring balanced tribo-mechanical characteristics against the as-casted A383. The hardness value increased by 40.8%, while the compression and tensile strength increased by 30.8% and 115.8%, respectively. Non-destructive testing confirms the effective reduction of porosity in the stir-cum-squeeze-cast composites. Moreover, the hybrid composites exhibit improved corrosion resistance by 32.18% after 72 h of testing. Additionally, the hybrid composites demonstrate a wear rate reduction of 54.35%.

Pre-hardening water quenching effect on the wear resistance of TiCN coated 4140 steels

In this comprehensive study, we investigated the mechanical and wear characteristics of AISI 4140 steel specimens subjected to quench hardening and coated with Titanium Carbo Nitride (TiCN) using the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) technique. Our analysis encompassed microstructure characterization, cross-sectional examination of the coating layer, phase analysis, microhardness evaluation, and wear behavior assessment, aiming to discern the combined impact of TiCN coating and pre-hardening treatment. The surface imaging and characterization of the coating layer were conducted employing Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) assisted Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Hardness measurements were performed utilizing a microhardness testing apparatus. Furthermore, wear assessments were executed employing a ball-on-disc tribometer, employing two distinct loads of 20 and 40 N. Results revealed that the pre-hardening process led to a remarkable coating surface hardness of 2473 HV, surpassing the 2230 HV recorded in AISI 4140 steel without pre-hardening. Pre-hardening notably improved coating thickness and hardness, and substantially reduced wear rates, especially when combined with TiCN coating. In conclusion, the combined approach of pre-hardening and TiCN coating emerges as a highly effective strategy for enhancing the mechanical and wear properties of this steel alloy.

The effect of nanocarbon inclusion on mechanical, tribological, and thermal properties of phenolic resin‐based composites: An overview

AbstractNanocarbons including carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide and particularly graphene have unique properties such as high mechanical strength, thermally stable, highly conducting, high friction stability and lower specific wear rates, which can potentially provide synergically improved performance of advanced engineering materials and technologies for various fields of applications such as automotive, aerospace, and other industrial components. Development of phenolic resin‐based nanocomposites comprised of nanocarbon material remained as a research focus to outperform different properties of conventional material based components. In application, phenolic resin is the most popular binder in frictional components development such as brake pads, brake linings, and clutch facings, particularly used in many of light and medium automotive brake pad applications. Specifically, the present review study aims to provide thorough discussion on the mechanical, tribological, and thermal performances of phenolic resin‐based nanocomposites containing nanocarbon as a property modifier by comparing with the neat phenolic resin or with the composite containing other micro ingredients. As per presented overview, the analysis shows the significant improvement in some required application‐based properties of phenolic resin‐based nanocomposites such as tensile strength, young's modulus, impact strength, specific wear rate reduction, residue yield, and thermal conductivity due to the inclusion of nanocarbon, where the content of nanocarbons ranges about 0.5 wt% to 5 wt%. Hence nanocomposites synthesized using phenolic resin matrix with nanocarbons fillers found to have better mechanical strength, better wear resistance, and thermal stabilities when compared to pure phenolic resin and other composites.

Effect of pulsed femtosecond laser shock peening surface modification on anti-wear failure properties of AISI 9310 gear steel

The wear resistance of gear components significantly influences operational reliability and lifespan of mechanical equipment. Compared with nanosecond time scale laser surface treatment, femtosecond laser shock peening (FLSP) has the advantage of no absorption layer and constraint layer in processing complex geometric structure parts. However, attempts at FLSP for gear materials are quite limited up to now. This paper introduces a methodology employing Pulsed FLSP to enhance the wear resistance of AISI 9310 gear steel. The research delves into the effects of FLSP on the surface morphology, mechanical characteristics, and wear performance of AISI 9310 steel under varying laser energy levels (50 μJ, 100 μJ, 150 μJ, 200 μJ) and pulse spacings (10 μm, 15 μm, 30 μm). The findings reveal that femtosecond laser surface treatment significantly augmented surface microhardness by 9.4 % to 17.4 % and induced a surge in surface residual compressive stress (RCS) by 30.5 % to 103.1 %. Moreover, it introduced a work hardening layer of 150–300 μm in depth direction, resulting in a wear rate reduction ranging from 10.1 % to 61.7 %. The sample treated with 15 μm pulse spacing and 150 μJ laser energy exhibited simultaneously the lowest wear rate and a minimum average coefficient of friction (COF) on 0.47. The advancement in wear resistance is attributed to the synergistic effects of markedly increased surface hardness, gradient hardness in depth direction, and reduced grain size induced by FLSP. A multiple linear regression (MLR) model indicates that deeper work hardening layers are most significant for improving wear resistance, which reduces risk of wear failure.

Enhancing mechanical properties in Co-free medium-entropy alloys through multi-phase structural design

Pursuing cost-effective multicomponent alloys with superior properties has sparked interest in exploring Co-free alternatives. In this work, a notable structural evolution from a coarse columnar face-centered cubic (FCC) configuration to a refined dual-phase microstructure was observed in the as-cast Co-free equiatomic CrFeNi-based multicomponent alloys through the Al and Ti additions. The presence of L12 nanoprecipitates in the FCC matrix and multiscale nanoprecipitates in the body-centered cubic (BCC) matrix led to a substantial threefold increase in hardness and a ∼50% reduction in wear rate. The average friction coefficient (COF) was reduced to ∼0.6877. This alloy demonstrates exceptional compressive properties, with a yield strength of 1140 MPa, ultimate strength of 2569 MPa, and plastic strain of 38%. The yield strength is nearly tenfold higher than that of the CrFeNi alloy. These findings highlight the potential of multi-phase structural design as a promising strategy for the development of wear-resistant multicomponent alloys.

Tribological behavior under 1200°C elevated temperature of spark plasma sintered h-BN bulk

h-BN with a layered crystal structure is one type of effective solid lubricants, especially at elevated temperatures. In present work, h-BN with relative density of about 91% was prepared by SPS technology, and its tribological behavior under 1200 °C was investigated. The results exhibited that the friction coefficient of h-BN was relatively stable when paired with Si3N4, which stayed at the range of 0.215–0.305. Low friction coefficient under 1200 °C was mainly thought to be the effect of weaker interlaminar binding of h-BN and easier slip of h-BN plates under higher temperature. Because of low hardness and fracture toughness, wear mechanism of h-BN was mainly brittle fracture, while coexistence of B2O3 and Al5BO9 was beneficial for reducing wear rate.

Role of temperature in tribolayers in fretting wear of γ-TiAl alloy

The formation of tribolayers may play significant influences on fretting wear. At elevated temperature, the adhesion among wear debris and the increased diffusion rate facilitate the formation of tribolayers. However, the intensification of oxidation at elevated temperature and the low diffusion rate in oxides may play an adverse role. The present study aims to investigate the role of temperature in tribolayers in fretting wear using a γ-TiAl alloy. Scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, Raman spectrometer, transmission electron microscope and nanoindentation were utilized to investigate the wear debris, tribolayers, and wear scars. The fretting tests showed that, compared with that at room temperature (RT) and 350 °C, significant reduction in wear rate and decrease in the fluctuation of friction coefficient occurred at 550 and 750 °C. It was further revealed that when temperature raised from room temperature (RT) to 750 °C, the oxidation of the wear debris increased slightly and the diffusion coefficients increased prominently, which facilities the formation of well tribo-sintered tribolayers. The well tribo-sintered tribolayers presented homogenous structure, nanocrystalline grains with excellent mechanical properties, and resulted in the improvement in the fretting wear resistance of the γ-TiAl alloy at 550 and 750 °C.

Unveiling Impact of Electron Beam Optics on Weld Attributes in EN30B Steel

The influence of electron optics in terms of beam oscillation (BO) has been studied on weld quality of several steels and reported to develop cosmetic weld with smooth surface and enhanced weld properties. However, effect of electron beam oscillation on the weld quality of medium carbon low alloy steel, especially EN30B, have not reported well and investigated in this study. By manipulating magnetic lens in-line with electron beam, the diameter of oscillating beam (OD) and its effect on weld quality has been studied. The OD was changed between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. Numerous tests, including XRD, SEM, EBSD, hardness, wear, and tensile, were used to characterize the weld quality. Welds with BO significantly lowered the heat input rate than welds without oscillation. In presence of beam oscillation, retained austenite (RA) in the weld increased and it became least in welds made without BO. Tensile residual stress was found in the fusion zone (FZ) and it was higher with beam oscillation, especially with higher OD. In contrast to columnar grains predominantly found in welds made without BO, significant equiaxed grains were identified in welds made with BO. Nonmetallic inclusions (NMIs) in the weld became finer and less by use of BO. Introducing BO enhanced the hardness and reduced wear rate of weld, particularly at greater beam OD. Although Weld strength was diminished in comparison to the base metal (BM), beam oscillation increased the weld's ductility and strength.

Dry sliding wear behavior of hard-chrome and zinc-phosphate conversion coatings on steel substrates

We have studied tribological properties of conversion coatings, hard chrome on AISI 430 stainless steel, and zinc phosphate on AISI 1044 carbon steel. These substrates were chosen due to their extensive industrial applications. The goal of the present study is to improve the wear resistance of these substrates through the coatings. We performed nano-indentation and ball-on-disc tribometer experiments to study mechanical and tribological behavior of substrates and coatings. We find that when zinc-phosphate coating is applied to AISI 1044 steel, a new phase Zn2Fe(PO4)2·4H2O (phosphophyllite) is formed on the surface that increases the surface hardness. We further find that coefficient of friction decreases approximately by 8% due to hard-chrome coating on AISI 430 steel and by 48% due to zinc-phosphate coating on AISI 1044 steel under load and speed conditions applied in the present study. We attribute our findings to formation of: (1) an adhering layer of chromium in the case of chrome–steel contact, leading to chrome–chrome contact at the interface of test-specimen and counter-surface, and (2) a glossy layer at interface in the case of phosphate-steel contact, owing to the compaction and crushing of phosphate wear debris. Our wear studies show maximum reductions in specific wear rate to be around 80% and 89% for chrome and zinc-phosphate coatings, respectively. We note that adhesion and abrasion are the primary modes of wear for chrome and zinc-phosphate conversion coatings, respectively at the initial stage. However, adhesive wear switches to delamination wear at a later stage for hard-chrome coating.

The influence of polydiethylsiloxane (PDES) concentration on the tribolfilm of chlorophenyl silicone oil (CPSO) under high-temperature lubrication

As pivotal structural component, steels operating at high temperatures play a vital role in promoting the development of advanced equipment technology. Enduring and efficient lubricants are critical bottleneck for the construction of high-temperature frictional subsystems. Polydiethylsiloxane oil (PDES) significantly reduces the coefficient of friction (COF) (9.80–16.74 %) and wear rate (28.95–54.59 %) in the Si3N4–8Cr4Mo4V system without sulfur and phosphorus anti-wear additives at 250 °C. With only 1 wt% PDES, there is a remarkable 28.95 % wear rate reduction in the Si3N4–8Cr4Mo4V frictional system. The enhanced lubrication performance come from the Si–O tribofilm at lower PDES concentrations (1–15 wt%). Once exceeding a PDES concentration of 30 wt%, the as-formed Si–O tribofilm transitions to a Fe–Mo compound film, exhibiting superior friction reduction and wear resistance properties.