Some Developments in Triboanalysis of Coated Machine Components

• Main Author: A. A. Minewitsch
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Kragujevac 2011-12-01
• Series: Tribology in Industry
• Subjects: surface engineering; triboanalysis; nano; micro indentation; scratch; roughness
• Online Access: http://www.tribology.fink.rs/journals/2011/2011-4/3.pdf

Surface engineering and coatings on surfaces of various auto- and machine components, bearings, piston rings, etc. have been since years proved to be a successful way of improving their performance [1-7]. However, quality of coated triboelements remains to be a subject of complex triboanalysis, using sophisticated methods of tribotesting, micro- and nanoindentation, micro- and nanoscratch, measurements of coating thickness and surface roughness, e.g. using non-contact confocal optical profilometry and related surface metrology techniques and software. Very often a physicist dealing with creating of novel deposition techniques and analyzing influences of plasma and high energy particles bombarding the solid surfaces on the properties of surface engineered components and a tribophysical background of their better performance. In tribology terms, plasma surface engineering and physical vapour deposition of coatings is playing a role of a control method for friction and wear, which has to be based on observation or measurement of output tribological parameters, characterizing a tribocouple and very exact selection of input parameters, aiming to provide the conditions, which would be maximally adequate for a concrete application of surface engineered components. The goal of present paper is to create some guidelines to selection of an optimal set of analytical techniques and configuration for some specific equipment for triboanalysis of engineered surfaces and coatings, assisting research scientist to formulate clear tasks for an experimental investigation, to obtain the best possible instrumentation and finally to be able to carry out experimental research and collect the experimental data giving the answers on principle questions of engineering of tribological surfaces.