In this study, the surface degradation behavior was studied for typical examples from bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), metallic glass composites (MGCs) and high entropy alloys (HEAs) alloy systems that are of scientific and commercial interest. The corrosion and wear behavior of two Zr-based bulk metallic glasses, Zr41.2Cu12.5Ni10Ti13.8Be22.5 and Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5, were evaluated in as-cast and thermally relaxed states. Significant improvement in corrosion rate, wear behavior, and friction coefficient was seen for both the alloys after thermal relaxation. Fully amorphous structure was retained with thermal relaxation below the glass transition temperature. This improvement in surface properties was explained by annihilation of free volume, the atomic scale defects in amorphous metals resulting from kinetic freezing. Recently developed MGCs, with in situ crystalline ductile phase, demonstrate a combination of mechanical properties and fracture behavior unseen in known structural metals. The composites showed higher wear rates but lower coefficient of friction compared to monolithic amorphous glasses. No tribolayer formation was seen for the composites in sharp contrast to that of the monolithic metallic glasses. Corrosion was evaluated by open circuit potential (OCP) analysis and potentiodynamic polarization. Site-specific corrosion behavior was studied by scanning vibration electrode technique (SVET) to identify formation of galvanic couples. Scanning kelvin probe microscope was used to map elecropositivity difference between the phases and linked to wear/corrosion behavior. Phases with higher elecropositivity were more susceptible to surface degradation. Wear and corrosion synergy in marine environment was evaluated for two high entropy alloys (HEAs), CoCrFeMnNi and Al0.1CoCrFeNi. Between the two alloys, Al0.1CoCrFeNi showed better wear resistance compared to CoCrFeMnNi in dry and marine conditions due to quicker passivation, a higher magnitude of polarization resistance and significantly larger pitting resistance.

Aluminum - Silicon alloys are recognized as appropriate materials for high performance cast components used in transportation powertrain applications. A combination of excellent wear resistance, good thermal conductivity and low density make these materials good candidates for engine bore applications. It is well accepted that the tribological properties of these alloys are dictated by the presence of hard eutectic silicon particles and their distribution in the soft aluminum matrix. Three near-eutectic aluminum-silicon engine bore alloys manufactured by different processing routes such as sand casting, chill casting and spray compaction were investigated to determine the influence of solidification on evolution of microstructure of these alloys and to establish correlation of microstructure with tribological properties. The spatial distribution of the silicon particles in aluminum matrix is analyzed using various image analysis techniques and contact distribution studies. The chill cast alloy shows large columnar primary aluminum dendrites interspersed with coarse silicon particles. The sand cast and spray compacted alloys show better spatial distribution of refined silicon particles. Microstructures generated under different solidification modes are found to have varying morphologies. The crystallographic orientations of the dendritic and eutectic aluminum as well as that of the eutectic silicon were studied using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The eutectic silicon nucleating in chill cast alloy is found to exhibit strong orientation relationship with the aluminum matrix. The crystallographic orientation relationship shows that the solidification modes of the eutectics in these three alloys are different, from alloy to alloy, due to their different solidification rates and due to the addition of grain refiners and modifiers. The hardness values of the aluminum matrix and silicon particles of these alloys were found using nanoindentation and micro indentation tests. Preliminary wear studies were carried out on etched and unetched test alloys in dry reciprocating sliding. The results show that of the three test alloys, the alloy in which eutectic regions nucleate heterogeneously from the primary aluminum dendrites gives the best wear resistance and the highest hardness. The very low friction coefficient recorded for the etched alloys is accounted for by the insitu formation of a thin sheet of tribofilm on the protruding silicon particles. The physical and chemical natures of this protective film are being investigated.

Aluminium silicon alloy has been found to be advantageous in many automobile components like pistons, cylinders, brakes and clutches. The main objective in using these alloys is to obtain lightweight and low friction at a reasonable cost without sacrificing reliability and durability. Out of all the tribological components piston skirts, piston rings and cylinder liners, have to face the most hostile of environments in an internal combustion engine. Wear mechanism of these components have been identified as abrasion, scuffing and corrosion. Narrowing down the line of interest, cylinder wear is more important than ring wear to both the engine manufacturer and the user, as cylinders are more expensive to replace than piston rings. Wear of piston ring and cylinder combination have been studied using a wide range of techniques. It is difficult to predict the tribological performance of these parts in an engine, even with the most well designed laboratory tests, due to chemical, thermal and mechanical complexities in the operating environment. Therefore, a good correlation is sought from the wear behaviour of test bed engines and laboratory tests. This should form the basis of further development particularly in terms of efficiency, weight eduction and wear life improvement of the components. Many ASTM bench-wear tests are used to study wear, some of the common tests being ball-on-disc and pin-on-disc testing. From these tests, a large database of wear information can be achieved and they offer rapid and low cost means of comparison. The only drawback is that the real components are not tested. However, since the bench tests can never simulate the engine environment completely, engine tests are always required for final verification. This thesis work reports preliminary studies of machining damage and wear in actual engine bore to set a bench mark, followed by a set of unidirectional sliding bench tests to study the wear of aluminium alloy under lubricated conditions, to classify the different wear regimes in boundary lubrication zone under different pressure conditions, and to study the effect of a surface modification technique, etching, which improves wear properties. The investigation is divided into four parts. 1. Study of subsurface damage in an actual cylinder surface as introduced by prior machining and actual worn case: A study of the microstructure of bores, processed through a range of machining variables; feed and speed, are investigated in this part of the thesis. This work suggests that the first step of rough machining may be responsible for the microstructure of the finished bore even though subsequent processing steps are intended to remove all prior damages. This also includes some observations of worn surface of an actually run engine, locating the various worn spots and studying the cause of this damage 2. Bench wear test in pin-on-disc under dry and lubricated condition with varying load and lubricant: After setting a benchmark on wear in engine using actual worn cylinder bore, a set of bench tests were carried out on aluminium alloy. Here, steel pins are slid on aluminium silicon alloy discs in the boundary lubrication regime in the presence of one drop of oil. The effect of pure hexadecane and engine oil containing additives on friction and wear are analysed and the data are discussed in terms of the formation of a mechanically mixed layer at the interface. 3. Ultra-mild Wear in Lubricated Tribology of an Aluminium Alloy: To study the different wear regimes in boundary lubrication zone, flat faces of cylindrical steel pins were slid on an eutectic aluminium silicon alloy under lubricated condition in the 1-100 MPa mean contact pressure range and 0.2 m/s sliding speed. Two transitions in wear rate were observed, at 10 MPa and 70 MPa. The wear rate in the 1-10 MPa regime was found to be very small and within the measuring instrument resolution and also insensitive to contact pressure. The regime is designated ultra-mild wear. Lack of plastic flow, minimal fragmentation of silicon particles and the presence of undistorted voids on the fractured and unfractured silicon particles in the subsurface suggest that the state of stress in the near surface region is elastic. Contact mechanical calculations demonstrate that at contact pressures less that 13.7 MPa the system is likely to shakedown to an elastic state. 4.Ball-on-disc wear tests for etched and unetched samples: In the fourth part of the thesis, comparative studies have been done between the as polished and chemically treated samples. Formation of grooves in a ball-on-disc experiment is observed on etched and unetched flats as a function of normal load and sliding distance. The groove is initially formed by plastic flow, and then expanded by micro-abrasion as the ball continues to slide on the groove. However etching causes surface hardening of the alloy, but, more importantly, creates a surface topology that reduces the peak contact pressure, which inhibits further plastic flow in the subsurface.

A maneira mais usual de estudar desgaste de componentes mecânicos e avaliar os parâmetros que o afetam é através de ensaios experimentais. Adicionalmente, estudos utilizando simulações numéricas com o Método dos Elementos Finitos em conjunto com modelos matemáticos têm ajudado a entender alguns princípios físicos, bem como estimar os efeitos do desgaste. Dentro desse contexto está inserida a presente dissertação, cujo objetivo é estudar o comportamento tribológico do sistema pistão-corpo de uma bomba de injeção a diesel através de ensaios experimentais e simulações numéricas. Um dispositivo é desenvolvido e construído para a realização dos ensaios experimentais por deslizamento em um tribômetro. Os ensaios são realizados a seco, com variações de forças normais e distâncias deslizadas. Os resultados obtidos são integrados a um modelo numérico através de uma sub-rotina que aplica o desgaste ao longo da simulação. O modelo numérico é desenvolvido através do método dos elementos finitos com o intuito de representar os experimentos e reproduzir o desgaste na superfície do pistão. Os resultados experimentais mostram diferentes comportamentos e mecanismos de desgaste atuantes. No início dos ensaios, o comportamento é estável, como menor taxa de desgaste e mecanismos com predominância de deformação plástica. No final desse período, aumenta-se o número de partículas de desgaste na interface e aderidas na superfície oposta, gerando abrasão, aumentando a taxa de desgaste, até o rompimento total do revestimento de nitreto de titânio do pistão. A sub-rotina aplica o desgaste com boa concordância com os experimentos. Com os resultados do modelo numérico é possível avaliar o comportamento dos componentes, levando-se em consideração a evolução do desgaste no pistão, além de estimar o coeficiente de desgaste para o par de contato avaliado. / The most common way to study wear of mechanical components and evaluate the parameters that affect it is through experimental tests. In addition, studies using numerical simulations with the Finite Element Method in combination with mathematical models have helped to understand some physical principles, as well to estimate the effects of wear. Within this context it is inserted this thesis, which goal is to study the tribological behavior of the plunger-pump body of a diesel injection system through experimental tests and numerical simulations. A device is developed and built for experimental sliding tests on a tribometer. Dry tests are performed with variation of normal forces and sliding distances. Results are integrated with a numerical model through a sub-routine that applies the wear along the simulation. The numerical model is developed by finite element method in order to represent the experimental tests and reproduce the wear in the plunger surface. The experimental results show different wear behaviors and mechanisms. In the beginning of the tests, the behavior is stable, with smaller wear rate and mechanisms with predominance of plastic deformation. At the end of this period, the number of wear particles in the interface and attached to the opposing surface is increased, generating abrasion, increasing the wear rate, up to the total break of the plunger titanium-nitride coating. The sub-routine applies the wear with good agreement with experimental tests. With the results of the numerical model, it is possible to evaluate the components behavior, taking into account the wear evolution in the plunger, besides estimating the wear coefficient for the evaluated contact pair.

A fabricação de moldes e matrizes são ricas em detalhes e geometrias complexas, exigindo tecnologias mais inovadoras e precisas. Um dos processos que se destaca na fabricação de moldes e matrizes, é o de eletroerosão por penetração (Electrical Discharge Machining - EDM). A usinagem por descargas elétricas é classificada como um processo de fabricação de geometria não definida, onde a remoção de material é realizada por repetidas descargas elétricas entre dois eletrodos eletricamente condutores. O desgaste da ferramenta é um dos principais parâmetros de medida no desempenho da usinagem por EDM. O maior problema ocasionado pelo desgaste de canto do eletrodo é a mudança de geometria da ferramenta no decorrer da usinagem, alterando a tolerância geométrica e o dimensional da cavidade. O presente trabalho propõe avaliação dimensional do desgaste de canto do eletrodo, no decorrer da usinagem do processo de EDM, variando o ângulo de superfície frontal do eletrodo. Outro propósito é a criação de um índice, chamado de taxa de arredondamento, que leva em consideração as áreas de desgaste de canto do eletrodo em função da área removida de material da peça. Os resultados mostraram que os eletrodos de cobre, cobre tungstênio e grafite, tem um grande crescimento de raio de canto no inicio da usinagem, estabilizando esses valores com tempo maiores de processo. O ângulo de superfície frontal do eletrodo influência diretamente no desgaste de canto do eletrodo. Os eletrodos de grafite não apresentaram comportamento de arredondamento de desgaste de canto durante os ensaios. Para o índice de taxa de arredondamento os eletrodos de cobre tungstênio tiveram o menor valor apresentado na usinagem do AISI H13. / The manufacture of molds and dies are rich in detail and complex geometries, requiring more innovative and precise technologes. One of the processes that stands out in the manufacture of molds and dies, is to EDM by penetration (Electrical Discharge Machining - EDM). The cutting by electrical discharge is classified as a non-defined geometry manufacturing process where material removal is carried out by repeated electrical discharge between two electrodes electrically conductive. The tool wear is a major measurement parameters in machining performance by EDM. The biggest problem caused by the electrode corner wear is the tool geometry change during the machining by changing the geometric tolerance and dimensional cavity. This paper proposes dimensional evaluation of the electrode corner wear, during the machining of the EDM process, varying the front surface of the electrode angle. Another purpose is to create an index, called rounding rate, which takes into account the areas of electrode corner wear due to the removed area of the workpiece material. The results showed that the copper electrode, copper tungsten and graphite, has a large corner radius growth at the beginning of machining, stabilizing these values with higher process time. The front surface of the electrode angle influence directly on the electrode corner wear. Graphite electrodes showed no corner wear rounding behavior during the tests. For rounding rate index tungsten copper electrodes had the lowest value presented in the machining of AISI H13.

A maneira mais usual de estudar desgaste de componentes mecânicos e avaliar os parâmetros que o afetam é através de ensaios experimentais. Adicionalmente, estudos utilizando simulações numéricas com o Método dos Elementos Finitos em conjunto com modelos matemáticos têm ajudado a entender alguns princípios físicos, bem como estimar os efeitos do desgaste. Dentro desse contexto está inserida a presente dissertação, cujo objetivo é estudar o comportamento tribológico do sistema pistão-corpo de uma bomba de injeção a diesel através de ensaios experimentais e simulações numéricas. Um dispositivo é desenvolvido e construído para a realização dos ensaios experimentais por deslizamento em um tribômetro. Os ensaios são realizados a seco, com variações de forças normais e distâncias deslizadas. Os resultados obtidos são integrados a um modelo numérico através de uma sub-rotina que aplica o desgaste ao longo da simulação. O modelo numérico é desenvolvido através do método dos elementos finitos com o intuito de representar os experimentos e reproduzir o desgaste na superfície do pistão. Os resultados experimentais mostram diferentes comportamentos e mecanismos de desgaste atuantes. No início dos ensaios, o comportamento é estável, como menor taxa de desgaste e mecanismos com predominância de deformação plástica. No final desse período, aumenta-se o número de partículas de desgaste na interface e aderidas na superfície oposta, gerando abrasão, aumentando a taxa de desgaste, até o rompimento total do revestimento de nitreto de titânio do pistão. A sub-rotina aplica o desgaste com boa concordância com os experimentos. Com os resultados do modelo numérico é possível avaliar o comportamento dos componentes, levando-se em consideração a evolução do desgaste no pistão, além de estimar o coeficiente de desgaste para o par de contato avaliado. / The most common way to study wear of mechanical components and evaluate the parameters that affect it is through experimental tests. In addition, studies using numerical simulations with the Finite Element Method in combination with mathematical models have helped to understand some physical principles, as well to estimate the effects of wear. Within this context it is inserted this thesis, which goal is to study the tribological behavior of the plunger-pump body of a diesel injection system through experimental tests and numerical simulations. A device is developed and built for experimental sliding tests on a tribometer. Dry tests are performed with variation of normal forces and sliding distances. Results are integrated with a numerical model through a sub-routine that applies the wear along the simulation. The numerical model is developed by finite element method in order to represent the experimental tests and reproduce the wear in the plunger surface. The experimental results show different wear behaviors and mechanisms. In the beginning of the tests, the behavior is stable, with smaller wear rate and mechanisms with predominance of plastic deformation. At the end of this period, the number of wear particles in the interface and attached to the opposing surface is increased, generating abrasion, increasing the wear rate, up to the total break of the plunger titanium-nitride coating. The sub-routine applies the wear with good agreement with experimental tests. With the results of the numerical model, it is possible to evaluate the components behavior, taking into account the wear evolution in the plunger, besides estimating the wear coefficient for the evaluated contact pair.

A fabricação de moldes e matrizes são ricas em detalhes e geometrias complexas, exigindo tecnologias mais inovadoras e precisas. Um dos processos que se destaca na fabricação de moldes e matrizes, é o de eletroerosão por penetração (Electrical Discharge Machining - EDM). A usinagem por descargas elétricas é classificada como um processo de fabricação de geometria não definida, onde a remoção de material é realizada por repetidas descargas elétricas entre dois eletrodos eletricamente condutores. O desgaste da ferramenta é um dos principais parâmetros de medida no desempenho da usinagem por EDM. O maior problema ocasionado pelo desgaste de canto do eletrodo é a mudança de geometria da ferramenta no decorrer da usinagem, alterando a tolerância geométrica e o dimensional da cavidade. O presente trabalho propõe avaliação dimensional do desgaste de canto do eletrodo, no decorrer da usinagem do processo de EDM, variando o ângulo de superfície frontal do eletrodo. Outro propósito é a criação de um índice, chamado de taxa de arredondamento, que leva em consideração as áreas de desgaste de canto do eletrodo em função da área removida de material da peça. Os resultados mostraram que os eletrodos de cobre, cobre tungstênio e grafite, tem um grande crescimento de raio de canto no inicio da usinagem, estabilizando esses valores com tempo maiores de processo. O ângulo de superfície frontal do eletrodo influência diretamente no desgaste de canto do eletrodo. Os eletrodos de grafite não apresentaram comportamento de arredondamento de desgaste de canto durante os ensaios. Para o índice de taxa de arredondamento os eletrodos de cobre tungstênio tiveram o menor valor apresentado na usinagem do AISI H13. / The manufacture of molds and dies are rich in detail and complex geometries, requiring more innovative and precise technologes. One of the processes that stands out in the manufacture of molds and dies, is to EDM by penetration (Electrical Discharge Machining - EDM). The cutting by electrical discharge is classified as a non-defined geometry manufacturing process where material removal is carried out by repeated electrical discharge between two electrodes electrically conductive. The tool wear is a major measurement parameters in machining performance by EDM. The biggest problem caused by the electrode corner wear is the tool geometry change during the machining by changing the geometric tolerance and dimensional cavity. This paper proposes dimensional evaluation of the electrode corner wear, during the machining of the EDM process, varying the front surface of the electrode angle. Another purpose is to create an index, called rounding rate, which takes into account the areas of electrode corner wear due to the removed area of the workpiece material. The results showed that the copper electrode, copper tungsten and graphite, has a large corner radius growth at the beginning of machining, stabilizing these values with higher process time. The front surface of the electrode angle influence directly on the electrode corner wear. Graphite electrodes showed no corner wear rounding behavior during the tests. For rounding rate index tungsten copper electrodes had the lowest value presented in the machining of AISI H13.

Le couplage des traitements de surface mécaniques et thermochimiques a fait l’objet de nombreuses études ces dernières années. L’objectif d’un tel couplage est l’amélioration des cinétiques de diffusion d’espèces chimiques résultant en une augmentation des profondeurs de diffusion, et/ou une diminution de la température du traitement thermochimique sur les matériaux prétraités mécaniquement. Dans cette thèse, le procédé SMAT (Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment) de nanocristallisation superficiel par déformation plastique sévère a été combiné avec la nitruration plasma sur un acier inoxydable 316L de qualité médicale. Ce procédé duplex permet une amélioration notable sur la capacité de diffusion de l’azote sous la surface de l’acier SMATé. Une étape intermédiaire entre le SMAT et la nitruration plasma a été proposée ; son rôle significatif pour la diffusion de l’azote a été démontré. Ainsi, la comparaison des résultats obtenus après la nitruration plasma sur les échantillons SMATés avec ceux uniquement nitrurés a permis de constater une augmentation jusqu’à 60% de l’épaisseur des couches nitrurées. Par ailleurs, de nombreux moyens de caractérisation ont été mis en œuvre à travers divers essais mécaniques de fatigue et de tribologie. Un modèle numérique multi-échelle de diffusion a également été développé pour simuler les profils de concentration d’azote après traitement duplex. Les profils de concentration d’azote simulés sont en bon accord avec les résultats expérimentaux / Coupled mechanical and thermochemical surface treatments have been the subject of much research effort in recent years. The goal of such a coupling is to improve diffusion kinetics leading to increased penetration depths, and/or to decrease the treatment temperature for mechanically pretreated materials. In this work, SMAT (Surface Mechanical Attrittion Treatment), used to refine the grain size by severe plastic deformation, is combined with plasma nitriding of a 316L medical-grade stainless steel. This duplex process significantly improves nitrogen diffusion. An intermediate treatment between SMAT and plasma nitriding is also proposed and its significant effect on the nitrogen diffusion is demonstrated. Comparisons between nitrided-only samples and duplex-treated samples have shown up to 60% increase of the nitrided layer thickness. In order to better understand the link between the generated microstructures and the mechanical fatigue and tribological responses, the samples have been characterised by many different techniques. Also, a multiscale numerical model of the diffusion process is proposed in order to simulate the nitrogen concentration profiles after duplex treatment. The simulated and experimental profiles correspond rather well

Alloys of titanium are highly preferred materials for their excellent strength to weight ratio but the tribological issues while using them has been posing challenging issues for the tribological analyst, which are still areas of active research. Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) is the most popular alloy of titanium and our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of wear and friction of this alloy is still not complete. Previous investigations related to the tribology of these alloys have suggested a synergistic effect of plastic deformation and tribo-oxidation. The present investigation described in this thesis explores the existence of one more mode, namely the formation of a Mechanically Mixed Layer (MML). The thesis examines the effect of these modes one by one and analyses the synergistic effect of these mechanisms, and also the effect of heat generation during sliding. The tribological condition existing have been varied by doing wear experiments using Ti64 pins sliding against alumina and SS316L (controls MML), diameter of pin (expected to control debris entrapment and thus MML formation), tribo-system (horizontal disc Vs vertical disc, which is also expected to control debris entrapment and thus MML formation), environment (ambient and vacuum, expected to control tribo-oxidation) and sliding speed (expected to control interface temperature and thus plastic deformation mechanism and tribo-oxidations). The division of the main chapters has been so made to present the findings spread over Chapters 5-8, with each chapter dealing with specific tribological test conditions. In each chapter, results from the tribological experimentations in the form of wear and friction are presented, together with the characterization methods which throw light into the tribological mechanisms. These characterization methods include Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDAX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). Wherever possible, the debris collected from the experiments have been subjected to morphological and detailed chemical analysis, and a feature which has not been explored much in detail by tribological investigators, but having a promising potential. Experimental results from tribological testing when Ti64 pins slides against two different materials (Alumina and SS316L) in pin-on-disc tribometers under two different environmental conditions (ambient /vacuum) are analyzed. Each set of experiments looks at two different effects - (1) the effect of sliding speed on the tribological behavior while using a pin of a fixed diameter (all other parameters remaining the same) and (2) the effect of using pins of different diameters for a given set of parameters. Three different pin-sizes were employed (2.1 mm. 4.6 mm and 6.6 mm), the normal loads on these pins were changed according to the pin-size used so that all experiments were done at the same contact pressure (2.8 MPa). By performing the experiments against the ceramic disc (alumina) under vacuum conditions, the effect of this plastic deformation is studied in isolation because the possibility of the Tribo Chemical Reaction (TCR) due to oxidation is inhibited and no MML was found to be formed due to poor compatibility of mixing between the metallic pin and the ceramic disc. For the low speeds/strain rates experiments, the effect of plastic deformation as influenced by the adiabatic shear banding is seen to influence wear which progressively changes to temperature induced plastic deformation and wear. The situation is found to be different when we change the environmental conditions from vacuum to ambient for the same tribo-combination. The tests shows a reduction in wear rate with speed, and this is due to the oxide formations due to TCR as confirmed from the SEM/EDAX characterization. In contrast to previous experiments under vacuum, these permit the effect of TCR also to influence the tribological behavior. The scenario changes when the alumina disc is replaced by a metallic one (SS316L) and tests carried out in vacuum, as the MML was found to be formed with this tribo-pair. Because of the mutual affinity of the materials in the tribo-pair, the wear damage is severe in this case and the flash temperatures crossing the phase transition temperature (~880oC) for Ti64 at high speeds. The growth of the β phase with increase in the sliding (temperature) conditions is captured from the XRD spectra of the wear debris. Synergistic effect of all these mechanisms (plastic deformation, MML, and TCR) is permitted by conducting experiments with Ti64 pin against stainless steel and in ambient conditions. A comparison of the tribological response by presenting results when experiments are run over a range of speeds while using different sized pins under ambient conditions (and compared with similar results in vacuum) while using SS316L disc serve to demarcate the differences in the wear modes which are active/inactive depending on the tribological conditions. In addition a study incorporating the effect of frictional heating and its influence on the tribological phenomena is analyzed. Main conclusions from the thesis are: The wear resistance of Ti64 alloy when sliding against SS316L is found to be influenced by Strain Rate Response (SRR), Tribo Oxidation (TO), Mechanically Mixed Layer (MML) and the prevailing heat flux conditions at the contact. The wear rates were found to decrease marginally with sliding speeds (strain rates) up to a certain speed, which is ascribed to reduction in adiabatic shear band intensity with increase in strain rate. Adiabatic Shear Band (ASB), which allows easy crack propagation, intensity reduces as temperature of deformation of Ti64 is increased. From the results it can be confirmed that the propensity for formation of MML depends on compatibility of the disc and the pin material. The contribution due to of entrapment and retention of debris in the contact zone also would influence formation of the MML. The effect of frictional heating plays an influential role as it can affect the factors (TO, ASB, MML) governing the tribological response. The sensitivity to temperature, which is a marked feature of this alloy in undergoing softening, as confirmed by previous researchers, is reflected in the experimental results. Since the main factor that triggers the micro-structural instability is the energy dissipation that accompanies deformation more fundamental research which can improve the thermal transport properties of this alloy, would be the future scope of work of this thesis. Also, the unique composition of the MML which offers high wear resistance under specific operating conditions opens up the possibility of new such alloy formulations, production routes and techniques which should improve the tribological response of this alloy.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This work is focused on developing viable self-healing coatings, especially considering the viability of the coating in a commercial context. With this in mind, finding low cost healing agents, with satisfactory healing and mechanical properties as well as adapting the healing system for use in coatings was required. Seven potential healing agents were evaluated and an air-drying triglyceride (linseed oil) was identified as the candidate healing agent. Different encapsulation techniques were evaluated and ureaformaldehyde microcapsules were chosen as the candidate encapsulation technique. Self-healing coatings were fabricated using urea-formaldehyde encapsulated linseed oil. EIS, SEM and TGA technologies were used to evaluate mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, and self-healing performance.