Surface analysis of laser cladded Stellite exposed to self-mated high load dry sliding

Materials from the Stellite family of Co-based alloys are commonly used as low friction, galling resistant materials in high load dry sliding contact applications.In the present investigation, the surface region of a Co-based material (Stellite 21) exposed to self-mated high load dry sliding at room temperature has been analysed in detail.During sliding, an approximately 30 nm thick Co-enriched tribofilm is created. It exhibits low friction properties and a high galling resistance. The transformation from an face-centred-cubic structure to easily sheared hexagonal-closed-packed basal planes in the tribofilm combined with the high load carrying capacity of the underlying deformation hardened zone is suggested to explain the excellent low friction properties and galling resistance of this material.