Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are emerging as advanced engineering materials for application in aerospace, defence, automotive and consumer industries (sports goods etc.). In MMCs, a metallic base material is reinforced with ceramic fiber, whisker or particulate in order to achieve a combination of properties not attainable by either constituent individually. Aluminium or its alloy is favoured as metallic matrix material because of its low density, easy fabricability and good engineering properties. In general, the benefits of aluminium metal matrix composites (AMCs) over unreinforced aluminium alloy are increased specific stiffness, improved wear resistance and decreased coefficient of thermal expansion. The conventional reinforcement materials for AMCs are SiC and AI2O3. In the present work, boron carbide (B4C) particles of average size 40μm were chosen as reinforcement because of its higher hardness (very close to diamond) than the conventional reinforcement like SiC, AI2O3 etc. and of its density (2.52 g cm"3) very close to Al alloy matrix. In addition, due to high neutron capture cross-section of 10B isotope, composites containing B4C particle reinforcement have the potential for use in nuclear reactors as neutron shielding and control rod material. Al-5%Mg alloy was chosen as matrix alloy to utilize the beneficial role of Mg in improving wettability between B4C particles and the alloy melt. (Al-5%Mg)-B4C composites containing 10 and 20 vol% B4C particles were fabricated. For the purpose of inter-comparison, unreinforced Al-5%Mg alloy was also prepared and characterized. The Stir Cast technique, commonly utilized for preparation of Al-SiC, was adapted in this investigation.The Composites thus prepared was subsequently hot extruded with the objective of homogenization and healing minor casting defects. Finally the unreinforced alloy and its composites were characterized in terms of their microstructure, mechanical and thermo-physical properties, sliding wear behaviour and neutron absorption characteristics. The microstructures of the composites were evaluated by both optical microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The micrographs revealed a relatively uniform distribution of B4C particles and good interfacial integrity between matrix and B4C particles. The hot hardness in the range of 25°C to 500°C and indentation creep data in the range of 300°C to 400°C show that hot hardness and creep resistance of Al-Mg alloy is enhanced by the presence of B4C particles. Measurement of coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of composites and unreinforced alloy upto 450°C showed that CTE values decrease with increase in volume fraction of reinforcement. Compression tests at strain rates, 0.1, 10 and 100 s-1 in the temperature range 25 - 450 °C showed that the flow stress values of composites were, in general, greater than those of unreinforced alloy at all strain rates. These tests also depicted that the compressive strength increases with increase in volume fraction of reinforcements. True stress values of composites and unreinforced alloy has been found to be a strong function of temperature and strain rate. The kinetic analysis of elevated temperature plasticity of composites revealed higher stress exponent values compared to unreinforced alloy. Similarly, apparent activation energy values for hot deformation of composites were found to be higher than that of self-diffusion in Al-Mg alloy. Tensile test data revealed that the modulus and 0.2% proof stress of composites increase with increase in volume fraction of the reinforcements. Composites containing 10%BUC showed higher ultimate tensile strength values (UTS) compared to unreinforced alloy. However, composites with 20%B4C showed lower UTS compared to that of the unreinforced alloy. This could be attributed to increased level of stress concentration and high level of plastic constraint imposed by the reinforcing jparticles or due to the presence solidification-induced defects (pores and B4C agglomerates ). Sliding wear characteristics were evaluated at a speed of 1 m/s and at loads ranging from 0.5 to 3.5kg using a pin-on-disc set up. Results show that wear resistance of Al-5%Mg increases with the addition of B4C particles. Significant improvement in wear resistance of Al-5%Mg is achieved with the addition of 20% B4C particles. SEM examination of worn surfaces showed no pull-out of reinforcing particles even at the highest load of 3.5 kg, thus confirming good interfacial bonding between dispersed B4C particles and Al alloy matrix. The neutron radiography data proved that (Al-5%Mg)-B4C composites possess good neutron absorbing characteristics. From the experimental data evaluated in the "study, it may be concluded that (Al-5%Mg)-B4C composites could be a candidate material for neutron shielding and control rod application. The enhanced elevated temperature-strength and favourable neutron absorption characteristics of these composites are strong points in favour of this material.

Utilizou-se o conceito de ?aço matriz + NbC? para produzir ligas com a matriz do aço rápido M2 ( 0,5%C ? 2%W ? 3%Mo ? 4,6%Cr ? 1%V) e variadas frações volumétricas de carbonetos de nióbio. Adicionou-se 2,5 e 5% de nióbio e carbono estequiométrico para a obtenção de carbonetos NbC e titânio (0,1%) para modificação da morfologia dos carbonetos NbC. Os carbonetos NbC apresentaram-se como carbonetos eutéticos com morfologia de escrita chinesa, como carbonetos primários com a morfologia de cruz de malta e como carbonetos eutéticos e primários com morfologia poligonal, estes últimos modificados com a adição de titânio. Após tratamento térmico de têmpera e revenimento para obtenção da máxima dureza, as ligas foram submetidas a ensaios de fadiga térmica (100 ciclos, 650ºC), de abrasão (roda de borracha ? 130N, 200rpm, 30min, hematita como abrasivo) e de deslizamento alternado (disco contra esfera ? 70,6N, amplitude: 6mm, freqüência, 6 Hz, 2h) para estudar o efeito da fração volumétrica e da morfologia dos carbonetos frente a estas solicitações. As ligas com carbonetos com morfologia poligonal e menor fração volumétrica de carbonetos (comparando-se morfologias iguais) apresentaram o melhor desempenho sob fadiga térmica devido ao baixo valor do parâmetro C/Dm da microestrutura (continuidade de carbonetos/distância livre média entre carbonetos). Os corpos-de-prova foram caracterizados por meio de microscopia ótica e eletrônica de varredura para determinar os sítios de nucleação e caminhos de propagação das trincas. Nos ensaios em roda de borracha as ligas com carbonetos eutéticos divorciados com morfologia poligonal apresentaram maior resistência ao desgaste do que os aços contendo carbonetos eutéticos cooperativos. O aumento da fração volumétrica de carbonetos NbC teve um máximo na resistência a abrasão e depois uma queda devido a presença de carbonetos primários grosseiros que fraturaram na superfície ensaiada e foram arrancados aumentanto a perda de massa. Nos ensaios de deslizamento alternado não foi possível hierarquizar o comportamento das ligas. Os corpos-de-prova de abrasão e de deslizamento foram caracterizados por microscopia ótica e eletrônica de varredura para determinar os mecanismos de desgaste atuantes. Um aço rápido para cilindros de laminação a quente (2%C ? 5%Cr ? 5%Mo ? 5%V) foi ensaiado sob condições idênticas às aplicadas às ligas estudadas, objetivando comparar desempenhos. O aço rápido apresentou desempenho superior nos ensaios de abrasão e de deslizamento alternado (devido a alta fração volumétrica de carbonetos eutéticos) e inferior no ensaio de fadiga térmica (devido ao alto parâmetro C/Dm da microestrutura oriundo da alta fração volumétrica de carbonetos eutéticos). / The concept of ?matrix steel + NbC? was used to cast alloys with the M2 steel matrix (0,5%C ? 2%W ? 3%Mo ? 4,6%Cr ? 1%V) and different volume fractions of niobium carbides. Niobium (2,5 e 5%) and stoichiometric carbon were added to produce NbC carbides and titanium (0,1%) to modify de NbC carbides morphology. NbC presented three basic morphologies: Chinese script (coupled eutectic); primary carbides with cross morphology and polygonal primary and eutectic carbides (divorced eutectics). After heat treatment of quench and temper in order to obtain the maximum hardness, the alloys were submitted to thermal fatigue test (100 cycles, 650ºC), dry rubber wheel abrasive wear test (130N, 200rpm, 30min, hematite as abrasive) and reciprocating sliding wear test (70,6N, amplitude: 6mm, frequency: 6Hz, 2h). The alloys with polygonal NbC carbides and lower volume fractions of carbides (for the same morphology) showed the best behaviour due to their low ?carbide continuity/carbide free path? ratio of the microstructure. The alloys were characterized by optical microscopy and SEM to investigate de cracks nucleation and propagation. In the dry rubber wheel tests, polygonal NbC eutectic carbides (divorced eutectics) showed better behaviour than Chinese script NbC eutectic carbides. High volume fractions of NbC carbides improved the abrasion resistance until a maximum and after that, the presence of big primary NbC carbides, lowered the abrasion resistance due to cracks in those big carbides. The results of the reciprocating sliding tests have not allowed to rank the performance of the alloys. Abrasion and sliding specimens were submitted to optical microscopy and SEM in order to evaluate the prevalent wear mechanisms. One high speed steel for hot rolling mill rolls (2%C ? 5%Cr ? 5%Mo ? 5%V) was tested under the same conditions that the alloys studied were tested in order to compare their performances. The high speed steel showed better performance in abrasion and reciprocating sliding wear due to the high volume fraction of coupled eutectic carbides and lower performance in thermal fatigue due to the high ?carbide continuity/carbide free path? ratio of the microstructure than the alloys studied.

Com a evolução dos processos de fabricação, aumenta o emprego de topografias engenheiradas com o objetivo de aumentar o desempenho dessas superfícies sob vários aspectos. Apesar do bom desempenho comprovado em algumas aplicações, existem outras em que o desempenho é questionável, como, em condições não lubrificadas e com elevadas pressões de contato. Neste cenário de dúvidas sobre a utilização de superfícies engenheiradas, o presente trabalho objetiva contribuir com as discussões por meio de um estudo do efeito de topografias anisotrópicas na transferência de material e resistência ao movimento em condições de deslizamento a seco com deformação plástica micro e macroscópica. O método utilizado contempla ensaios tribológicos que consistem, basicamente, em deslizar um material sobre superfícies engenheiradas de outro material com maior dureza, em duas condições de deformação plástica: i/ localizada no pico das asperezas em contato (ensaio pino-sobre-disco) e ii/ volumétrica (ensaio de compressão do anel). Os resultados permitiram concluir que os mecanismos de desgaste podem ser reproduzidos nos dois ensaios. Com deformação plástica microscópica (pino-sobre-disco) constatou-se que: i/ os vales e cavidades da topografia atuam de forma a evitar o contato das partículas de desgaste com o corpo em deslizamento; e ii/ os maiores valores do coeficiente de atrito foram obtidos com a superfície com maior quantidade de cavidades, a mesma condição topográfica que apresentou maior área com transferência de material. Com deformações plásticas macroscópicas (ensaio de compressão do anel) constatou-se que os vales da topografia da ferramenta atuaram como bloqueios para o deslizamento do anel conformado, o que resultou num aumento do coeficiente de atrito e redução da transferência de material. / The evolution of manufacturing progresses increases the use of engineered surfaces, seeking the improvement of the overall performance of these surfaces. Despite the enhanced performance under some circumstances, uncertainties still exist in conditions such as unlubricated and high contact pressure conditions. This work aims contributing to these discussions by studding the effect of anisotropic topographies on the material transfer and resistance to movement under dry sliding conditions including micro and macroscopic plastic deformation. The method consisted of tribological tests by sliding a material against engineered surfaces of higher hardness. Tests were conducted under two plastic deformation conditions: i/ localized on surface asperities contact (pin-on-disc test) and ii/ volumetric (ring test). Results allowed concluding that wear mechanisms can be reproduced on both tests. Under microscopic plastic deformation (pin-on-disc test) it was possible to verify that: i/ grooves and cavities have contributed to avoid the contact between wear debris and sliding body; and ii/ the higher friction coefficient was obtained when testing the surface with high amount of cavities, a condition that presented the larger area of material transfer. Under macroscopic deformation (ring test), grooves from tool topography played the role of blocking the ring material sliding, increasing friction coefficient and decreasing material transfer.

The main motivation of this doctoral thesis is to extend the current knowledge about the tribological behavior of a precipitation-hardenable (PH) austenitic stainless steel (SAE XEV-F or DIN 1.4882), used for manufacturing exhaust valves for internal combustion engines in passenger cars. For this purpose, dry sliding laboratory tests were carried out using this steel and other steels, mainly austenitic and martensitic, used as model materials for the comparative characterization of wear and friction. Experimental tests were conducted using an SRV®4 tribometer in a ball-on-disc configuration with reciprocating movement, in which the discs were the samples and the balls the counter-bodies. Four kinds of steels were tested: a) AISI 310, b) SAE XEV-F, c) AISI H13, and d) Nitrided SAE XEV-F. The ball was made of AISI 52100 bearing steel. The tests were conducted at room temperature and fixed conditions of time (sliding distance) (up to 73.2 m), load (100 N), frequency (10 Hz) and stroke (2mm). Wear was evaluated by means of mass loss in the disc and the ball, and post examination of the worn surfaces. Post examination was conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coherence correlation interferometry (CCI), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). Wear debris resulting from tribological interaction were also investigated using SEM and XRD. Additionally, the friction coefficient was measured. High speed filming and interrupted tests were also performed at specific sliding distances. This work reports a severe-to-mild wear transition occurring during the first stage of tribological interaction (running-in) and its relation to the load distribution variation at the interface throughout the tribological tests. The wear transition was observed in different steel-on-steel tribosystems in ball-on-disc contact configuration and occurred due to the combined effects of two factors: a) the contact pressure reduction, due to the increase of nominal contact area caused by wear; and b) subsurface strain hardening (when relevant). The pressure/distance variation was determined experimentally and modeled empirically. Subsurface strain hardening was observable (and measurable) mainly the austenitic steels. Significant differences in wear (and friction) were observed between homogeneous (monophasic) steels and the heterogeneous (multiphasic) SAE XEV-F valve steel. Wear in the homogeneous steels presented an inverse correlation with hardness. Wear on the AISI 310 presented non-linear wear rates for a significant portion of the test. Wear on the SAE XEV-F valve steel was pronounced (even in the mild regime) due to a combined effect of two factors: a) formation of hard debris, which induced an abrasive component to wear by relative sliding, and b) subsurface NbC fracture, which markedly affected the material removal due to plastic deformation in the surrounding matrix. Wear of the nitrided SAE XEV-F steel was lower than that of the non-nitrided samples by nearly two orders of magnitude. The benefits of nitriding in the SAE XEV-F were two-fold: a) an increased surface hardness, and b) the prevention of NbC fracture and detachment, which results in even higher wear resistance. / A principal motivação desta tese é ampliar o conhecimento atual sobre o comportamento tribológico de um aço inoxidável austenítico endurecível por precipitação (PH), o SAE XEV-F (ou DIN 1.4882), utilizado para a fabricação de válvulas de exaustão de motores de combustão interna para carros de passageiros. Para este propósito, foram realizados ensaios laboratoriais de deslizamento a seco usando este aço e outros, principalmente aços austeníticos e martensíticos, usados como materiais modelo para a caracterização comparativa do desgaste e do atrito. Os ensaios experimentais foram conduzidos usando um tribômetro SRV®4 em uma configuração esfera-disco com movimento alternado, em que os discos foram as amostras e as esferas são os contracorpos. Foram ensaiados quatro tipos de aços: a) AISI 310, b) SAE XEV-F, c) AISI H13, e d) SAE XEV-F nitretado. A esfera era feita de aço para rolamento AISI 52100. Os ensaios foram realizados a temperatura ambiente e usando condições fixas de tempo (distância total percorrida até 73.2 m), carga normal (100 N), frequência (10 Hz) e amplitude da oscilação (2 mm). O desgaste foi avaliado por meio de perda de massa, tanto do disco quanto da esfera, e exame das superfícies desgastadas utilizando microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), interferometria de correlação de coerência (ICC) e difração de raios-X (DRX). Os debris de desgaste resultantes da interação tribológica também foram investigados usando MEV e DRX. Adicionalmente, a evolução do coeficiente de atrito foi analisada. Também foram realizadas filmagens de alta velocidade e ensaios interrompidos em tempos de deslizamento específicos. Este trabalho reporta uma transição de desgaste severo para moderado que ocorre durante as a primeira fase da interação tribológica (running-in) e sua relação com a variação da carga na interface durante os ensaios tribológicos. A transição de desgaste foi observada em diferentes tribo-sistemas de aço-contra-aço na configuração esfera-plano e ocorreu principalmente por efeitos combinados de dois fatores: a) a redução da pressão de contato, devida ao aumento da área nominal causada pelo desgaste; e b) o encruamento subsuperficial (quando relevante). A variação pressão/distância foi determinada experimentalmente e modelada empiricamente. Encruamento por deformação subsuperficial foi observável (e medível) principalmente nos aços austeníticos. Foram observadas diferenças significativas no desgaste (e atrito) entre os aços homogêneos (monofásicos) e o aço de válvula SAE XEV-F, heterogêneo (multifásico). O desgaste nos aços homogêneos apresentou uma correlação inversa com a dureza. O desgaste no aço válvula SAE XEV-F foi pronunciado (mesmo no regime de desgaste moderado) devido a um efeito combinado de dois fatores: a) a formação de debris duros, o que induziu uma componente abrasiva ao desgaste por deslizamento relativo, e b) a fratura subsuperficial do NbC, o que afetou significativamente a remoção de material devida à deformação plástica da matriz. O desgaste do aço nitretado SAE XEV-F foi menor que o das amostras não tratadas em quase duas ordens de grandeza. Os benefícios da nitretação no aço válvula SAE XEV-F foram dois: a) o aumento da dureza da superfície, e b) a prevenção da fratura e desprendimento de NbC, o que resulta em uma resistência de desgaste ainda maior.

O esmalte dental é o tecido mineralizado mais duro do corpo humano; apesar disto, seu desgaste é um problema muito comum. Este pode estar associado aos processos de envelhecimento, ou ainda, ser encontrado em indivíduos jovens, como consequência de atividades parafuncionais, por exemplo, atrição dental. Este tipo de dano pode resultar em prejuízo da função mastigatória e em diminuição da qualidade de vida. Por isto, o desgaste do esmalte dental tem sido objeto de muitos estudos, embora poucos tenham utilizado conceitos tribológicos. Não foi encontrado nenhum estudo que explorasse o desgaste de esmalte e seus micromecanismos oriundos do deslizamento alternado de incisivo contra incisivo, configuração que mais se aproxima do tribossistema real de atrição. O presente estudo tem por objeto investigar o desgaste e seus mecanismos em pares deslizantes de esmalte incisal (configuração pino-plano), selecionados por seus similares valores de dureza e de tenacidade à fratura, submetidos a diferentes cargas normais e lubrificações do meio. Incisivos bovinos foram ensaiados em deslizamento alternado sob duas cargas normais (8 N e 16 N) e quatro modos de lubrificação: saliva natural; saliva artificial; gel lubrificante oral (Oralbalance!, Biotène); e grupo controle sem lubrificação (seco). Durante os ensaios, foram levantadas as curvas de atrito. O volume desgastado e a rugosidade da superfície foram mensurados via perfilometria 3D. Os micromecanismos de desgaste foram analisados ao microscópio eletrônico de varredura. O aumento da carga normal aplicada resultou em aumento do volume de desgaste para todas as condições. Comparando-se ao grupo sem lubrificação, as salivas (natural e artificial) não reduziram o desgaste, mas a lubrificação com o gel foi efetiva para reduzir tanto o volume de esmalte desgastado como o coeficiente de atrito. A relação entre o valor do parâmetro de rugosidade Sq e o coeficiente de atrito não foi linear, nem entre a rugosidade Sq e o coeficiente de desgaste, para todas as condições. Os micromecanismos de desgaste encontrados foram, em ordem crescente de severidade: desgaste da região interprismática (8 N - gel); propagação de trincas interprismáticas (8 N - seco); reações triboquímicas associadas à ação mecânica (8 N - saliva natural e artificial; 16 N - gel; 16 N - saliva natural e artificial); e desplacamento (16 N - seco). / Enamel is the hardest mineralized tissue in the human body; despite that, the enamel wear is a very common problem. The wear damage can be related to aging processes or also be found in young people as a result of parafunctional activities, for example, dental attrition. This type of damage can result in loss of masticatory function and decreased quality of life. Therefore, the wear of the enamel has been the subject of many studies, although few have used tribological concepts. The wear mechanisms of reciprocating sliding pairs from incisor against incisor have not been reported in the literature, this configuration is the one that is closest to the real tribosystem of attrition. The present study aims to investigate the wear behavior and the related mechanisms in reciprocating sliding pairs of incisal enamel (pin-on-flat configuration), selected for their similar hardness and fracture toughness values, with different applied normal loads and lubrication conditions. Bovine incisors were tested in reciprocating sliding with different applied normal loads (8 N and 16 N) and four lubrication conditions: natural saliva; artificial saliva; oral gel lubricant (Oralbalance!, Biotène); and control group (dry). During tests, the friction curves were recorded. The volume loss and the surface roughness Sq were investigated by 3D profilometry. Wear mechanisms were analyzed by scanning electron microscope. The increase of the normal load resulted in an increased volume loss for all conditions. Comparing to the group without lubrication, the saliva (natural and artificial) did not reduce the volume loss, but the lubricant gel was effective to reduce both the volume loss and the coefficient of friction. The relationship between the value of the roughness Sq and the friction coefficient was not linear, nor between the roughness Sq and the wear coefficient for all conditions. In increasing order of severity, the micromechanisms of wear were: wear at the interrod enamel (8 N - gel); crack propagation in the interrod enamel (8 N - dry); tribochemical reactions associated with mechanical wear (8 N - natural saliva and artificial saliva; 16 N - gel; 16 N - natural saliva and artificial saliva); and flake-like wear (16 N - dry).

The present work deals with developing a tribological test machine that had been built earlier but did not function properly. It was giving out abnormal noises and vibrations and was not corresponding to its desired functions. In this study, the root of these problems is analyzed and some solutions are suggested by developing a new construction concept for the machine.

In the last decades, significant improvements regarding the design, materials and technology of rock drills have been made. Likewise, in sheet metal forming, forming tools experience very high contact pressures when processing high strength steel sheets. In both applications components operate under extremely tough contact conditions that result in an accelerated component failure. Enhancements on mechanical properties of components material subjected to extreme contact conditions are highly required in order to withstand the application loads and prevent severe wear. The present thesis was focused on understanding of machinery component damage mechanisms under severe contact conditions. A case study of worn components used in rock drilling and sheet metal cold work was carried out. Thread joints from rock drilling and punches from sheet metal pressing were selected for the investigation. For these components, sliding contact under high contact pressure is a common load condition under the components usage. Then, to understand and quantify the influence of contact parameters, load and surface quality on material performance, laboratory simulations were performed. The results were used for a comparative analysis of the typical damage mechanisms observed in the tests and the case study of the components. The case study results showed that the threaded surfaces underwent severe plastic deformation due to the high-pressure sliding contact. The microstructure beneath the worn surface was altered and surface cracks and delamination were frequently observed at the worn surface. The dominant damage mechanism found on the investigated punches was adhesive wear. Material transfer adds friction stresses at the punch surface and ultimately, with repeated punch strokes, it leads to initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks. Wear process in thread joint and punch wear was simulated using the SOFS. The worn specimens tested experimentally showed similar wear mechanisms obtained in the case study. The thread joint wear simulation showed that the total damage at the worn surface was a result of adhesive wear, plastic deformation, and initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks. In addition, the results showed that the type of motion had a significant influence on the worn volume and crack initiation, and more severe wear was observed at reciprocal motion. The punch wear simulation showed that the friction quickly increased as work material from metal sheets transferred to the disc surface. The rate of the material transfer was strongly dependent on the combination of sheet material and tool steel. Further, the present experimental simulations were applicable to characterize and predict wear of components in the application. / Components used in rock drilling and sheet metal forming operate under harsh contact conditions that result in an early-life component failure. Wear and fatigue are considered as the most common damage mechanism for these components. Commonly, the service life of a component is designed based on its fatigue life. However, wear might have a significant effect on the components life too. Wear results in a surface damage that in turn may cause a fatigue crack initiation. Therefore, knowledge about wear of materials and components is a key factor in design and prediction of the lifetime of the components. In order to predict wear of a certain component, a thorough understanding of the component with regards to its material properties, application loads and working environment, and damage mechanisms is required. The overall aim of the present work was to define the typical wear mechanisms occurred on machinery components used in rock drilling and sheet metal forming. A comparative analysis of the case studies and results from performed laboratory tests simulated wear mechanisms in the applications highlighted wear mechanisms and factors influencing severity of wear in the applications. Obtained information is crucial for ranking and selection of the best material in the applications. / <p>The presentation will will be via zoom. PhD student will together with the supervisors will be in Karlstad while the opponent is in Luleå. </p>

Silicon nitride on steel sliding contacts may provide advantageous tribological properties over traditional self-mated pairs, however the friction and wear behavior at high sliding speeds (>1 m/s) is not well understood. Previous studies at low sliding speeds (< 1 m/s) have found that the wear mechanisms change as a function of the operating parameters, e.g. atmosphere, sliding speed, load, and temperature, due to the formation of transition metal oxides such as Fe2O3 and Fe3O4. This study detected transient effects of the dry silicon nitride on steel contact over a range of sliding speeds to understand their relation to tribochemical reactions and the resulting tribological behavior. Two sets of dry silicon nitride on steel experiments were conducted at 1.45 GPa maximum Hertzian pressure. The first set were low sliding speed reciprocating experiments, conducted at an average of 0.06 m/s, conducted at variable operating temperature, ranging from 23 °C to 1000 °C. In the low sliding speed experiments, transitions of the wear mechanism from adhesive wear, to abrasive wear, then to oxidative wear was observed when the operating temperature increased. The second set were high sliding speed experiments, conducted at variable sliding speeds, ranging from 1 m/s to 16 m/s. In the high sliding speed experiments, a transition from adhesive wear to oxidative wear was observed when the sliding speed surpassed 4.5 m/s. The high sliding speed experiments were accompanied by in-situ instrumentation which detected the presence of a tribofilm which correlated to a reduction in friction, and its formation was linked to tribochemical reactions induced by high flash temperatures. Both sets of experiments had a maximum estimated contact temperature of 1000 °C where oxidative wear was prevalent. Although, the low sliding speed experiments underwent severe bulk oxidation and thermal softening effects, while the high sliding speed experiments experienced localized flash heating events with temperatures sufficient to form a semi-coherent tribofilm that was lubricious and significantly improved wear resistance. Therefore, the effects of transition metal oxides in sliding contacts are determined to be significantly influenced on their mechanisms of formation and interrelated to the operating parameters as found for dry sliding silicon nitride on steel contacts.

Hard gold thin films and coatings are widely used in electronics as an effective material to reduce the friction and wear of relatively less expensive electrically conductive materials while simultaneously seeking to provide oxidation resistance and stable sliding electrical contact resistance (ECR). The main focus of this dissertation was to synthesize nanocrystalline Au films with grain structures capable of remaining stable during thermal exposure and under sliding electrical contact stress and the passing of electrical current. Here we have utilized a physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique, electron beam evaporation, to synthesize Au films modified by ion implantation and codeposited ZnO hardened Au nanocomposites. Simultaneous friction and ECR experiments of low fluence (< 1x10^17 cm^-2) He and Ar ion implanted Au films showed reduction in friction coefficients from ~1.5 to ~0.5 and specific wear rates from ~4x10^-3 to ~6x10^-5 mm^3/N·m versus as-deposited Au films without significant change in sliding ECR (~16 mΩ). Subsurface microstructural changes of He implanted films due to tribological stress were analyzed via site-specific cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and revealed the formation of nanocrystalline grains for low energy (22.5 keV) implantation conditions as well as the growth and redistribution of cavities. Nanoindentation hardness results revealed an increase from 0.84 GPa for as-deposited Au to ~1.77 GPa for Au uniformly implanted with 1 at% He. These strength increases are correlated with an Orowan hardening mechanism that increases proportionally to (He concentration)1/3. Au-ZnO nanocomposite films in the oxide dilute regime (< 5 vol% ZnO) were investigated for low temperature aging stability in friction and ECR. Annealing at 250 °C for 24 hours Au-(2 vol%)ZnO retained a friction coefficient comparable to commercial Ni hardened Au of ~ 0.3 and sliding ECR values of ~35 mΩ. Nanoindentation hardness increases of these films (~2.6 GPa for 5 vol% ZnO) are correlated to microstructure via high resolution TEM and scanning electron microscope cross-sections to both Hall-Petch and Orowan strengthening mechanisms. Also presented is a correlation between electrical resistivity and grain size in the oxide dilute range based on the Mayadas-Shatzkes (M-S) electron scattering model. Using the M-S model in combination with a model describing solute drag stabilized grain growth kinetics we present a new technique to probe grain boundary mobility and thermal stability from in-situ electrical resistivity measurements during annealing experiments.

<p dir="ltr">Fretting wear occurs when two contacting bodies under load are subjected to small amplitude oscillatory motion. Depending on the applied normal load, displacement amplitude, coefficient of friction and resulting shear force, two types of fretting wear regimes exist – (i) partial slip and (ii) gross slip. At displacement amplitudes higher than gross slip condition, sliding wear regime prevails. Fretting wear becomes dominant in machine components subject to vibrations such as bearings, dovetail joints, etc. whereas sliding wear is observed in brakes, piston-ring applications, etc. The work in this dissertation primarily focuses on characterizing the material response of various machine components subjected to fretting and sliding wear regimes.</p><p dir="ltr">At first, the friction and fretting wear behavior of inlet ring and spring clip components used in land-based gas turbines was investigated at elevated (<a href="" target="_blank">500°C</a>) temperature. In order to achieve this objective, a novel high-temperature fretting wear apparatus was designed and developed to simulate the conditions existing in a gas turbine. The test apparatus was used to investigate fretting wear of atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) Cr₃C₂-NiCr (25% wt.), high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) sprayed Cr₃C₂-NiCr (25% wt.), HVOF sprayed T-800 and APS sprayed PS400 coated inlet rings against HVOF-sprayed Cr₃C₂-NiCr (25% wt.) coated spring clip. The PS400 coated inlet rings demonstrated a significant reduction in friction and wear. A finite element (FE) framework was also developed to simulate fretting wear in HVOF-sprayed Cr₃C₂-NiCr composite cermet coating. The material microstructure was modelled using Voronoi tessellations with a log-normal distribution of grain size. Moreover, the individual material phases in the coating were randomly assigned to resemble the microstructure from an actual SEM micrograph. A damage mechanics based cohesive zone model with grain deletion algorithm was used to simulate debonding of the ceramic carbide phase from the matrix and resulting degradation from repeated fretting cycles. The specific wear rate obtained from the model for the existing material microstructure was benchmarked against experiments. Novel material microstructures were also modeled and demonstrated to show less scatter in wear rate.</p><p dir="ltr">Following, a three-dimensional (3D) continuum damage mechanics (CDM) FE model was developed to investigate the effects of fretting wear on rolling contact fatigue (RCF) of bearing steels. In order to determine the fretting scar geometry, a 3D arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) adaptive mesh (AM) FE model was developed to simulate fretting wear between two elastic bodies for different initially pristine fretting pressures (0.5, 0.75 and 1 GPa) and friction coefficients (0.15, 0.175 and 0.25) resulting in stick zone to contact width ratios, c/a = 0.35, 0.55 and 0.75. The resulting wear profiles were subjected to various initially pristine RCF pressures (1, 2.2 and 3.4 GPa). The pressure profiles for RCF were determined by moving the contact over the fretted wear profiles in 21 steps. These pressure profiles were then used in the CDM-FE model to predict the RCF life of fretted surfaces. The results indicate that increased fretting pressure leads to more wear on the surface, thereby reducing RCF life. As the RCF pressure increases (P_RCF ≥ 2.2 GPa), the effect of fretting on RCF life decreases for all fretting pressures and c/a values, indicating that life is primarily governed by the RCF pressure. The results from CDM-FE model were used to develop a life equation for evaluating the L₁₀ life of fretted M-50 bearing steel for the range of tested conditions.</p><p dir="ltr">Lastly, the sliding wear characteristics of pitch and poly-acrylonitrile based carbon-carbon (C/C) composites were investigated in air and nitrogen environment by designing and developing a disc brake test rig. It was found that the temperature of the disc, the surrounding environment, the supplied energy flux as well as the type of composite play a critical role in determining whether C/C composites operate in normal wear or dusting wear regime. Further analysis of wear mechanisms revealed interface and matrix cracking with fiber breakage from tests in air environment, whereas in nitrogen environment, particulate and layered debris played a prominent role.</p>