Surface Friction Properties Research Articles

Enhancing wear resistance and biocompatibility of medical ZrNb alloy used for artificial joint via femtosecond laser surface processing combined with thermal oxidation

Zr-2.5Nb alloy is widely used as an implant material in the biomedical field. Zr-2.5Nb alloy was subjected to laser processing and laser processing combined with thermal oxidization composite treatment to investigate the effects of different structures and surface treatments on its morphology and surface element distribution, corrosion, friction properties and biocompatibility. The results show that after laser processing alone, ZrO2 and Nb2O5 appear on the surface, but the oxide film is thin, and after composite treatment, t-ZrO2 appears on the surface of the Bulge structure. Meanwhile, the corrosion resistance of the alloy in simulated body fluids is significantly improved after composite treatment, among which the LIPSS structure has the strongest corrosion resistance, and the corrosion current density is improved by two orders of magnitude in comparison with that of the substrate. The results of the wear volume experiments show that the wear resistance of both the laser treatment and its composite treatment is improved, with the LIPSS structure having the best performance. In addition, the composite treatment was shown to be biocompatible and suitable for use as an implant material.

Assessment of Various Archwire Materials and Their Impact on Orthodontic Treatment Outcomes.

Aim Orthodontic treatment relies heavily on the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of archwire materials to achieve optimal outcomes. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the mechanical properties, including tensile strength, yield strength, and modulus of elasticity, as well as the surface characteristics, such as surface roughness and frictional properties, of different archwire materials. Methods Four types of archwire materials, stainless steel, nickel-titanium (NiTi), beta-titanium, and esthetic archwires, were subjected to mechanical testing and surface analysis, with 31 in each group. Tensile testing was conducted to determine the maximum tensile strength, yield strength, and elastic modulus of each material. Surface roughness analysis was performed using profilometry techniques, and frictional properties were evaluated using an orthodontic friction testing apparatus. Results Stainless steel exhibited the highest tensile strength (900 N), followed by beta-titanium (850 N), NiTi (800 N), and esthetic archwire (750 N). Stainless steel also demonstrated the highest yield strength (780 N), followed by beta-titanium (740 N), NiTi (710 N), and esthetic archwire (650 N). The modulus of elasticity was the highest for stainless steel (200 GPa), followed by beta-titanium (170 GPa), NiTi (150 GPa), and esthetic archwires (120 GPa). Surface roughness was lowest in stainless steel archwires (mean Ra value of 0.25 µm), leading to reduced frictional resistance, whereas esthetic archwires exhibited the highest surface roughness (mean Ra value of 0.40 µm) and frictional forces. Significant differences in the mechanical properties and surface characteristics were observed among the materials (p < 0.05). Conclusions The choice of archwire material significantly influences orthodontic treatment outcomes by affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of tooth movement. Stainless steel and beta-titanium wires are ideal for high-stress applications, providing the robust mechanical strength necessary for complex movements. In contrast, NiTi wires, with their superelasticity, offer consistent and gentle forces, enhancing patient comfort and accelerating the alignment phase. Esthetic archwires, while visually appealing, often compromise mechanical performance, potentially prolonging treatment duration.

Synergistic Effect of Elliptic Textures and H-DLC Coatings for Enhancing the Tribological Performance of CuAl10Fe5Ni5 Valve Plate Surfaces

Axial piston pumps with compact structures and high efficiency are widely used in construction machinery. The efficiency and lifetime strongly depend on the tribological performance of the pump’s valve plate pair. To enhance the tribological performance of the valve plate pair, surface textures, and H-DLC coatings were fabricated to modify the CuAl10Fe5Ni5 surfaces. The influences of elliptic textures of different sizes and textured H-DLC coatings on the surface friction and wear properties of the valve plate surface under oil lubrication were evaluated using a ring-on-disk tribometer. The results reveal that the friction and wear properties of the CuAl10Fe5Ni5 surfaces are significantly enhanced by elliptic textures, and the friction coefficient and wear rate of textured CuAl10Fe5Ni5 with E90 are maximally decreased by 95% and 87%, respectively. Compared with the surface textures and H-DLC coatings, the textured H-DLC coating has the greatest ability to reduce wear and adhesion. The wear rate of the textured H-DLC coating is further reduced by 98%. This improvement can be explained by the synergistic effect of the elliptic textures and H-DLC coatings, which are attributed to the reduced contact area, debris capture, and secondary lubrication of the elliptic textures, and increased surface hardness.

The microhardness, morphology and tribological property of TC4 subjected to machine hammer peening

Ti alloy has become an indispensable material in harsh working environments due to its excellent wear resistance, corrosion resistance and impact resistance. These environments place stringent requirements on the fatigue life, friction and wear, and surface strength of materials. Therefore, this study aims to deeply explore the surface mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) alloy after machine hammer peening (MHP) treatment. By conducting experiments on TC4 alloys treated with different hammering energies, the changes in surface hardness, morphology, roughness, tensile properties, and friction properties were analyzed, and the strengthening mechanism of MHP was discussed. Experimental results show that MHP treatment can effectively improve the surface properties of TC4. With the increase of hammer energy, due to the double-sided hammering of the plate, the microhardness first increases, then decreases, and then rises again. The tensile strength and yield strength of the sample increase slightly, but the elongation at break decreases. The surface roughness of the sample increases first and then decreases. Similarly, after MHP treatment, the wear resistance of the samples increased, the friction coefficient decreased, and the wear amount and surface height difference showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The wear mechanism mainly included adhesive wear, abrasive wear and fatigue wear.

Numerical study on tribology properties of textured surfaces based on a new contact model

The frictional properties of textured surfaces are closely related to the contact between rough peaks in the mixed lubrication. A model for rough peak contact between polyurethane and metal was already developed in a previous study. This study aims to further analyze the influence of various parameters on the friction properties of textured surfaces based on the previously developed theoretical model. As found, the friction coefficient increases with the increase of the root mean square roughness, and the increasing magnitude shows an upward trend. The friction coefficient varies with different texture shapes, and among the four shapes, the spherical texture has the smallest friction coefficient. In addition, either small or large texture depths can adversely affect the friction coefficient. The friction coefficient decreases and stabilizes with the increase of area ratio. The effect of working parameters on the friction coefficient coincides with the Stribeck curve.

Friction and wear properties of textured surface for bearing steel with mango-shaped micro geometries

PurposeGiven the current friction and wear challenges faced by automobile parts and bearings, this study aims to identify a novel texture for creating anti-friction and wear-resistant surfaces. This includes detailing the preparation process with the objective of mitigating friction and wear in working conditions.Design/methodology/approachFemtosecond laser technology was used to create a mango-shaped texture on the surface of GCr15 bearing steel. The optimized processing technology of the texture surface was obtained through adjusting the laser scanning speed. The tribological behavior of the laser-textured surface was investigated using a reciprocating tribometer.FindingsThe friction coefficient of the mango-shaped texture surface is 25% lower than that of the conventional surface, this can be attributed to the reduced contact area between the friction ball and the micro-textured surface, leading to stress concentration at the extrusion edge and a larger stress distribution area on the contact part of the ball and disk compared to the conventional surface and the function of the micro-texture in storing wear chips during the sliding process, thereby reducing secondary wear.Originality/valueThe mango-shaped textured surface in this study demonstrates effective solutions for some of the friction and wear issues, offering significant benefits for equipment operation under light load conditions.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2024-0127/

Influence of initial crystalline phase of TiO2 to obtain TiN thin films from sol-gel route by rapid thermal nitridation process

Titanium Nitride (TiN) is widely used in many industrial sectors for its outstanding performances including its mechanical properties, high chemical and thermal stability. Associated with its plasmonic behavior, TiN thin films are very promising for the manufacturing of optical metasurfaces devices or new plasmonic materials. Among the processes that make it easy to obtain metal nitride coatings, nitriding of metal oxide films has become increasingly popular in recent years. A multitude of synthesis processes can be used to obtain TiO2 films, with different crystalline states (amorphous, anatase or rutile) depending on the technique used, which can then be converted into TiN coatings. In this paper, the effect of the initial crystalline state of TiO2 layers was investigated on the structural properties, plasmonic properties and the friction behavior of TiN thin films obtained by Rapid Thermal Nitridation (RTN). The results indicate that, regardless of the crystalline state of the starting TiO2 film, the RTN process leads to complete nitridation of TiN coating. Moreover, even though surface morphology and friction properties differ slightly, depending on the crystallization of the starting TiO2, plasmonic properties remain very similar, thus highlighting the great versatility and uniformity of this nitriding technique, enabling TiN to be produced for a wide range of applications.

Study of in vitro wear resistance and degradation properties of self-made treated medical magnesium alloys

Study of <i>in vitro</i> wear resistance and degradation properties of self-made treated medical magnesium alloys

Evaluation of Frictional Influence and Thermal Analysis of Flexible Paper‐Based Materials Used in the Vertical Form–Fill–Seal Process: An Experimental Study

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the frictional behaviour of flexible polymer‐coated and dispersion‐coated materials used in vertical form–fill–seal (VFFS) machines. A laboratory‐scale friction measurement device was developed to investigate the relationship between different surface topographies, roughness and frictional properties. Furthermore, surface roughness, contact angle and surface energy of the material were analysed and a microscopic analysis was performed to further understand the effect of material properties on friction. Thermal camera analysis was performed to measure the temperature changes within the material during the film‐transport stage of the VFFS machine. The friction measurement results indicated that the sliding direction did not affect the static and kinetic coefficients of friction. The significant influence of friction on the surface topography of the plate (forming shoulder and tube) was particularly evident. Some materials experienced the stick–slip phenomenon during sliding, depending on the surface type. Teflon tape, which is commonly used in the forming tubes of VFFS machines, exhibited the lowest coefficient of friction. Thermal camera analysis revealed that polymer‐coated paper materials generated more heat than dispersion‐coated papers during VFFS trials and thermoplastic films generated the least heat. No clear relationship between the surface roughness of the paper, fibre orientation, surface energy and friction coefficient was noted. Furthermore, paper‐based materials exhibited a higher coefficient of friction, which is possibly related to the dispersion components of surface energy. The findings of this study provide additional knowledge for designing the forming tube, shoulder geometry and surface plate to minimize the occurrence of defects, such as wrinkles, in paper‐based packages.

Fabric handling evaluation of woven shirting fabrics by the fabric touch tester

A fabric touch tester is a novel instrument with fabric handling properties. Its principal advantage is that the device has integrated modules for compression, surface friction, and thermal and bending properties. This module integration simplifies the testing process, and provides an efficient measurement method, and a comprehensive physical index. This study focused on woven fabrics for dress shirts. The fabric samples comprised three groups with various yarn compositions – that is, cotton, polyester, and wool. Sample group 1 was composed of cotton, polyester, and blended yarns; sample group 2 mainly compared the effect of twist yarns on the fabric touch; and sample group 3 was composed of wool and blended yarns with polyester. The handling properties were assessed by compression work and the compression recovery rate for the compression attributes. The results revealed that fabric (T100p1) with high twist-level yarns had a higher value of compression work (242.56 gf*mm2), and the texture type may affect the compression characteristics more significantly than the blending ratio. The fabric touch tester can also distinguish small changes in the compression properties of samples (0.43–0.71), the maximum heat flux and surface roughness amplitude for the thermal and surface roughness properties. The results revealed that the maximum heat flux value of all the samples in this study was 1109 Wm−2, the sample C100 using pure cotton yarn had the highest maximum heat flux value (1270 Wm−2). Moreover, the sample W100 with 100% wool fiber yarn had the highest surface roughness amplitude in the warp direction (81 μm) and surface roughness amplitude in the weft direction (67 μm). Finally, the bending average rigidity was used to assess the bending performance of the fabric samples. These fabric touch tester indicators were applied to analyze the fabric handling characteristics of woven shirting fabrics, and perform cross-analysis among samples.

Study on laser processing of medical polyether ether ketone surface texture and its improvement on service performance

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) has excellent chemical stability, x-ray transmittance, and elastic modulus close to human cortical bone, which can effectively reduce the stress shielding effect. Therefore, PEEK can be used as a commonly used medical bone implant material to repair damaged bones. However, due to its low surface free energy, PEEK has a certain degree of biological inertness. Surface modification methods are urgently needed to improve this problem. Laser surface texturing is expected to improve the biological inertia of PEEK materials. In this study, an ultraviolet laser with a wavelength of 355 nm was used to construct textures on the surface of PEEK materials. By biomimetic design on the surface of PEEK materials, textures similar in depth and width to the surface topography of natural bones were processed. We explore the specific improvement of corrugated texture, single line texture, and orthogonal texture on PEEK material performance, aiming at improving the service performance of PEEK material and creating conditions for better service of PEEK material in vivo. Through the evaluation of PEEK surface contact angle, friction and wear properties, and biocompatibility, the research results show that laser surface texture treatment can improve many service properties of PEEK materials.

Further enhancement of surface mechanical properties of carburized 9310 steel by electropulsing-assisted ultrasonic surface rolling process

9310 carburized steel experiences significant wear and spalling problems when operating under high friction and heavy loads, which severely restricts its applications in the aviation industry. Therefore, it holds great significance to further enhance the surface mechanical properties of 9310 carburized steel through suitable surface strengthening technologies. The Electropulsing-Assisted Ultrasonic Surface Rolling Process (EP-USRP) has been successfully applied to carburized 9310 steel, yielding significant improvements in surface quality, hardness, friction and wear properties, and microstructure. Systematic investigations were conducted under varying EP-USRP parameters. Regarding the electric pulse parameters, it is observed that with the increase in output voltage, surface properties such as surface roughness and surface hardness tend to first optimize and then deteriorate. After applying EP-USRP with optimal parameters, the surface roughness of carburized 9310 steel was reduced to Ra 0.154 μm, a mere 5 % of its initial value. The surface hardness experienced a substantial increase, reaching 909.2 HV, representing a notable improvement of 29.9 % compared to the original sample, with a corresponding hardening depth of 1400 μm. Moreover, the wear amount of carburized 9310 steel witnessed a remarkable reduction to 11.8 % of its initial value, accompanied by a decrease in the coefficient of friction to 43.0 %. The enhancement of carburized 9310 steel through EP-USRP is attributed to two key mechanisms: deformation hardening induced by severe plastic deformation and microstructure strengthening resulting from strain-induced martensitic transformation. Among them, the severe plastic deformation mechanism is dominant, Through these mechanisms, the proportion of small-angle boundaries in carburized 9310 steel strengthened by EP-USRP increased. Additionally, the grain size of the surface layer decreased, and the content of retained austenite in the surface layer decreased, collectively contributing to significant improvements in surface properties, as well as friction and wear performance.

Effects of methane concentration on tribological properties of diamond films prepared on different ceramic substrates

ABSTARCT Diamond films were prepared on silicon nitride and zirconia ceramic substrates using hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). The surface morphology, friction, and wear properties of the diamond films prepared with different methane concentrations (2%, 4%, and 6%) were compared using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and friction and wear testing machines. The results showed that, with an increase in the methane concentration, the diamond particles gradually changed from micro- to nanodiamonds, and the grain size first increased and then decreased. The diamond films on silicon nitride substrates were of excellent quality, with good wear resistance, strong adhesion, and wear rates of 2.857 × 10−8 mm−3•m−1•N−1, 5.151 × 10−8 mm−3•m−1•N−1, and 1.334 × 10−7 mm−3•m−1•N−1, respectively. The diamond films on zirconia substrates had more impurities on the surface, higher internal stress, poorer wear resistance, and weaker adhesion, with wear rates of 3.789 × 10−8 mm−3•m−1•N−1, 5.899 × 10−8 mm−3•m−1•N−1, and 2.074 × 10−7 mm−3•m−1•N−1, respectively. Hence, the deposition of diamond films on ceramic substrates significantly reduced the friction coefficient, and the performance of diamond films on silicon nitride substrates was excellent.

Structural characteristics and high-temperature friction properties of a solid metal surface with a laser-melted coating of high-entropy alloy

Structural characteristics and high-temperature friction properties of a solid metal surface with a laser-melted coating of high-entropy alloy

Synergistic effects of hierarchical micro/nanostructures and PDMS/lubricant composites for superior tribological and wetting performance on aluminum.

In this study, we propose a method to enhance the friction and wetting properties of aluminum surfaces with micro-/nanostructures by coating them with a PDMS/lubricant composite. Hierarchical micro/nanostructures were formed on the aluminum surface through an etching process, and coating solutions were prepared by mixing xylene and the PDMS/lubricant composites in various ratios. The surface morphology, roughness, and wettability of the coated specimens were analyzed, and their friction and wear characteristics were evaluated under dry and lubricated conditions. The results showed that the PDMS/lubricant composite coating significantly reduced friction and wear under both dry and lubricated conditions owing to the formation of a stable lubricating film. Additionally, the hierarchical micro/nanostructures formed by the etching process improved hydrophobicity and self-cleaning ability. The coated surface exhibited selective wettability towards water and oil, offering various advantages such as prevention of contamination, prevention of wear and performance degradation caused by lubricant oxidation, and enhanced corrosion resistance. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of lightweight mechanical-component technologies with improved durability and wear resistance.

Synergistic Effects of Ultrasonic Rolling Textures and PTFE‐PPS/SiO2 Coatings on Dry Friction and Wear Properties of GCr15 Steel Surfaces

Ultrasonic surface rolling processing (USRP) is used to fabricate textures with different shapes and processing times on the surface of GCr15 substrates. The polytetrafluoroethylene‐polyphenylene sulfide/silicon dioxide (PTFE‐PPS/SiO2) lubricant coating is subsequently deposited on texture surfaces by electrohydrodynamic atomization. USRP texturing not only forms the texture shapes but also realizes the strengthening effects of increased hardness and residual stress. Synergistic effects of the PTFE‐PPS/SiO2 coating and different USRP textures on dry friction and wear properties are investigated. The results show that the synergistic effect of the linear texture with two processing times and the PTFE‐PPS/SiO2 coating achieves better dry friction and wear performance than the individual effect. The texture shape and the processing times both affect the synergistic effect. The increase in processing times has a positive effect on synergistic improvement. The linear texture plays a better synergistic effect compared with that of the wavy texture with the same processing times. The USRP textures affect the tribological properties of texture‐coating samples by mainly influencing the coating‐substrate adhesion. The texture with an appropriate shape and height can improve the adhesion with the coating, and thus synergistically improve the dry friction and wear properties of the substrate.

Improving the Surface Integrity and Tribological Behavior of a High-Temperature Friction Surface via the Synergy of Laser Cladding and Ultrasonic Burnishing

Quite a lot of engineering friction components serve at high temperatures, and are thus required to have excellent friction and wear resistance. The said study aims to fabricate high-wear-resistance coating on ordinary low-cost materials, achieving the low-cost manufacturing of some high-end friction components that are usually made with expensive solid alloys. The coating was prepared via laser cladding with a sort of widely used Fe-based self-fluxing alloy powder. The chosen substrate material was forged 42CrMo, which is popular in high-temperature friction engineering applications. In order to achieve the best possible high-temperature friction and wear properties, the prepared coating was turned and then ultrasonic burnished. Three samples, i.e., the substrate sample, the cladded sample without burnishing, and the cladded sample with burnishing, were prepared. For the three samples, the surface characteristics and friction properties at a 200 °C temperature were compared and investigated. According to the results, the cladded sample with burnishing exhibited the best surface finishing and friction behavior. Ultrasonic burnishing after cladding led to a further hardness improvement of 15.24% when compared with the cladded sample without burnishing. Therefore, ultrasonic burnishing is an effective low-cost post-treatment method for a wearable coating serving at a high temperature.

Study on Microstructure Evolution Mechanism of Gradient Structure Surface of AA7075 Aluminum Alloy by Ultrasonic Surface Rolling Treatment.

The materials with grain size gradient variation on the surface, which were prepared with mechanical-induced severe plastic deformation, always show high resistance to high and low cycle fatigue and frictional wear because of their good strength-ductility synergy. The ultrasonic surface rolling treatment (USRT) has the advantages of high processing efficiency, good surface quality, and large residual compressive stress introduced to the surface after treatment. The USRT was used to prepare aluminum alloy (AA7075) samples with a surface gradient structure; meanwhile, the microstructural evolution mechanism of the deformation layers on the gradient structure was studied with XRD, SEM, and TEM. The microstructure with gradient distribution of grain size and dislocation density formed on the surface of AA7075 aluminum alloy after USRT. The surface layer consists of nanocrystals with random orientation distribution, and high-density dislocation cells and subgrains formed in some grains in the subsurface layer, while the center of the material is an undeformed coarse-grained matrix. The results show that the dislocation slip dominates the grain refinement process, following the continuous cutting and refinement of dislocation cells, subgrains, and fragmentation of the second precipitates. This study systematically clarified the mechanism of grain refinement and nanocrystallization on the surface of high-strength aluminum alloys and laid a theoretical foundation for further research on mechanical behavior and surface friction and wear properties of high-strength non-ferrous materials with gradient structure.

Effect of Contact Angle on Friction Properties of Superhydrophobic Nickel Surface

Due to their excellent performance, superhydrophobic materials have received a lot of attention and research in friction reduction and wear resistance. However, the effect of different contact angles of superhydrophobicity on friction and wear properties has not been thoroughly studied. In this paper, a nanosecond pulsed laser was used to realize the preparation of a superhydrophobic nickel surface, which indeed reduced the coefficient of friction but also increased the wear volume when compared to the unprocessed surface. As the contact angle of the superhydrophobic nickel surface increased, the coefficient of friction gradually increased, and the wear volume decreased gradually in superhydrophobic nickel surfaces. When the laser energy density was 1 J/cm2, the contact angle was 150.3° and the minimum friction coefficient was 0.4. However, when the laser energy density was 50 J/cm2, the maximum contact angle was 156.4° and the minimum wear volume was 4.23 × 107 μm3. The friction direction also influenced the tribological properties of the superhydrophobic-textured surface. This method makes it possible to process superhydrophobic surfaces with more suitable friction and wear properties.

Effect of α-Al2O3 Additive on the Surface Micro-Arc Oxidation Coating of Ti6Al4V Alloy.

α-Al2O3 nanoparticles can enter a micro-arc oxidation coating and participate in the coating-formation process through chemical reaction or physical-mechanical combination in the electrolyte. The prepared coating has high strength, good toughness and excellent wear and corrosion resistance. In this paper, 0, 1, 3 and 5 g/L of α-Al2O3 nanoparticles were added to a Na2SiO3-Na(PO4)6 electrolyte to study the effect on the microstructure and properties of a Ti6Al4V alloy micro-arc oxidation coating. The thickness, microscopic morphology, phase composition, roughness, microhardness, friction and wear properties and corrosion resistance were characterized using a thickness meter, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffractometer, laser confocal microscope, microhardness tester and electrochemical workstation. The results show that surface quality, thickness, microhardness, friction and wear properties and corrosion resistance of the Ti6Al4V alloy micro-arc oxidation coating were improved by adding α-Al2O3 nanoparticles to the electrolyte. The nanoparticles enter the coatings by physical embedding and chemical reaction. The coatings' phase composition mainly includes Rutile-TiO2, Anatase-TiO2, α-Al2O3, Al2TiO5 and amorphous phase SiO2. Due to the filling effect of α-Al2O3, the thickness and hardness of the micro-arc oxidation coating increase, and the surface micropore aperture size decreases. The roughness decreases with the increase of α-Al2O3 additive concentration, while the friction wear performance and corrosion resistance are improved.