Study on the Influence of the Ball Material on Abrasive Particles’ Dynamics in Ball-Cratering Thin Coatings Wear Tests

Abstract

Micro-abrasion remains a test configuration hugely used, mainly for thin coatings. Several studies have been carried out investigating the parameters around this configuration. Recently, a new study was launched studying the behavior of different ball materials in abrasive particles’ dynamics in the contact area. This study intends to extend that study, investigating new ball materials never used so far in this test configuration. Thus, commercial balls of American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 52100 steel, Stainless Steel (SS) (AISI) 304 steel and Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were used under different test conditions and abrasive particles, using always the same coating for reference. Craters generated on the coated samples’ surface and tracks on the balls’ surface were carefully observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and 3D microscopy in order to understand the abrasive particles’ dynamics. As a softer material, more abrasive particles were entrapped on the PTFE ball’s surface, generating grooving wear on the samples. SS AISI 304 balls, being softer than the abrasive particles (diamond), also allowed particle entrapment, originating from grooving wear. AISI 52100 steel balls presented particle dynamics that are already known. Thus, this study extends the knowledge already existing, allowing to better select the ball material to be used in ball-cratering tests.

Study on the Micro-Abrasion Wear Behavior of PVD Hard Coating under Different SiC Abrasive Particles/Distilled Water Ratios

“…In the diffraction patterns, two type of phases can be identified: crystalline TiN and Fe, the last coming from signals of the substrate. As already mentioned, the peaks and structure presented are in line with other investigations carried out, where the TiN peaks in the (111), (200), and (220) directions are the most common [30,31,56,57]. On the other hand, less common TiN peaks with less intensity correspond to the (222) and (311) directions [30].…”

“…Figure 4 shows the X-ray diffraction pattern conducted at the film. The spectrum does not reveal significant differences in the structure as compared to other TiN coatings deposited by the same technique studied in the literature [30,31,56,57].…”

“…The equipment used in that work is a little bit different to the PLINT TE-66 usually used, presenting a test rig configuration. Pinto et al [30] have extended this work, not centered on the friction coefficient, but on the wear mechanisms observed. The materials used in that work are also a little different, but present diverse hardness characteristics.…”

“…In this work, Uddeholm Calmax steel, chrome-molybdenum-vanadium alloy steel, (AISI D3; DIN X210Cr12; W.r 1.2080) was used as a substrate to deposit the TiN coating produced by sputtering. This substrate is in the annealed state with a hardness of 248 HB and Young's modulus of 210 GPa [30,31]. The nominal chemical composition of the steel in wt% is: C-0.6%; Si-0.35%; Mn-0.8%; Cr-4.5%; Mo-0.5%; V = 0.2%.…”

“…They were subjected to a 15-min ultrasound cleaning to ensure the removal of oils and dirt from the supplier packaging conditions. However, the roughness was induced at the ball surface using 4% Nital solution for 60 s. The criterion for selecting this treatment and, therefore, this roughness lies in the results obtained in [30,31].…”