Lubricating property of cast iron combined with two-scale unit structure by biomimetic laser treatment

•Two-step laser treatment was used to remanufacture the uneven worn surface.•Two-scale structure units were produced on biomimetic surface.•The relationship between units' spacing and wear resistance was studied.•Effect of unit distributions on wear resistance was discussed by finite element.

A damaged surface with a residual hardened layer was observed on a failure guide surface. Using a two-step laser treatment, a two-scale unit structure with a different spacing was distributed on the failure surface to form a biomimetic surface to recover its property/function. A theoretical equation describing the relationship between the wear resistance increase rate of biomimetic samples and the spacing between units was formulated in this study. In addition, finite element (FE) method was used to analyze the lubricating property of biomimetic surface and the effect of the distribution of units on the sliding wear resistance. Moreover, the dynamic cycle wear process of the biomimetic surface similar to the flexion and extension movement of earthworms in soil was analyzed.