Friction and wear behaviors of carbon-based multilayer coatings sliding against different rubbers in water environment

We have addressed the friction and wear behaviors of multilayer Cr/CrN/GLC (graphite-like carbon) coatings sliding against different rubbers in water environment. Stribeck curves and start–stop tests were presented to analyze the water-lubrication mechanism and tribological properties of coating/rubber tribopairs. Results exhibited that applied loads had a minor influence on the tribological performances of coating/rubber tribopairs compared to sliding speeds. The friction coefficients fluctuated during the test process, including in the start–stop process, which related to the viscoelasticity of rubbers. Furthermore, the different tribological performances of tribopairs were attributed to the hardness, surface wettability and tensile strength as well as viscoelasticity.

► The tribological performances of coatings sliding against rubbers were investigated.
► The water-lubrication mechanism of three coating/rubber tribopairs were presented.
► 500 times repeated start–stop tests were conducted in succession for three tribopairs.