Slip-rolling resistance of thin films and high toughness steel substrates under high Hertzian contact pressures

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are perceived as part of a strategy for low frictional tribosystems. Especially the automotive industry anticipates a benefit in applying such coatings in association with the lightweight construction of mechanical parts, for instance in gear and engine components. Therefore, in previous investigations amorphous carbon (a-C) and tetragonal amorphous carbon (ta-C) coatings were inspected. For up to ten million cycles at Hertzian contact pressures P0max of 2.9 GPa it was shown that these coatings are slip-rolling resistant not only at room temperature in the presence of unaddivated paraffin oil, but also up to 120 °C oil temperature. The steel substrates in this investigation were made of the hardened and tempered steels 100Cr6H and Cronidur 30. The aim of the current work is manifold. The Hertzian contact pressures should be increased up to P0max of 4.2 GPa by using new steel metallurgies as substrates for thin film coatings. These steel metallurgies are also assessed, if they can compete as uncoated couples. Two high toughness spring steels and an ultra-high toughness aerospace steel were tested in a twin disc tribometer of the Amsler type as well as in an Optimol 2Disk test rig under mixed/boundary conditions in a factory fill SAE 0W-30 engine oil. Different factors such as influences of the lubrication, surface chemistry and wear behaviour were investigated.

Research highlights▶ Improved load carrying capacity in rolling contact of coated/uncoated HT steels. ▶ Hertzian contact pressure up to P0max = 2.94 GPa. ▶ Tribological benefit (wear, COF) of uncoated novelty steel to DLC and ZrCN coatings. ▶ HT steels with improved load carrying capability than e.g. DLC coated 100Cr6H.