A comparative study on the tribological behaviors of nitrided and sulfur-nitrided 35CrMo steel lubricated in PAO base oil with MoDTC additive

A nitrided layer on 35CrMo steel was prepared by the ion nitriding process, and then a sulfur-nitrided layer was obtained by low temperature ion sulfuration. The results showed that both the nitrided and sulfur-nitrided surfaces improved the wear resistance efficiently under PAO lubrication, and exhibited the best wear resistance and friction-reducing property under PAO with 0.75% MoDTC lubrication. Compared with the plain and nitrided surfaces, the sulfur-nitrided surface exhibited the best synergistic effect with MoDTC displaying the lowest friction coefficient and wear volume. The mechanism of the best effect was due to MoS2 and FeS formed on the sulfur-nitrided surface.

► Sulfur-nitrided layer was prepared by ion nitriding and ion sulfuration process.
► Nitrided and sulfur-nitrided surfaces improved the wear resistance under PAO lubrication.
► Exhibited better tribological properties under PAO with 0.75% MoDTC lubrication.
► Sulfur-nitrided surface possessed the best synergistic effect with MoDTC.
► The best effect was due to MoS2 and FeS formed on the worn sulfur-nitrided surface.