The effect of multi-scale laser textured surface on lubrication regime

• Published in: Applied surface science 2013-04, Vol.270, p.58-63
• Main Authors: Segu, Dawit Zenebe, Choi, Si Geun, Choi, Jae hyouk, Kim, Seock Sam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ablation; AISI 52100 steel multi-scale texturing; Bearing steels; Chromium steels; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dimpling; Exact sciences and technology; Friction; Laser surface texture; Lasers; Lubrication; Lubrication regime; Physics; Surface layer; Texture; Texturing; Tribology
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2012.12.068

► The effect of multi-scale laser textured surface on lubrication regime was studied. ► A novel multi-scale dimples were fabricated by LST by combining circles and ellipses. ► The beneficial effect of multi-scale dimples becomes higher with increasing dimple depth and sliding speed. ► The multi-scale texture dimples have important hydrodynamic lubrication effect. Laser surface texturing (LST) is a surface engineering process used to improve tribological characteristics of materials by creating patterned microstructures on the mechanical contact surface. In LST technology, a pulsated laser beam is used to create arranged dimples on surface by a material ablation process, which can improve load capacity, wear resistances, lubrication lifetime, and reduce friction coefficients. In the present study, the effect of multi-scale LST on lubricant regime was investigated. A pulsed Nd:YAG laser was applied on steel (AISI 52100) to create arranged dimples. To optimize the surface texturing effect on friction, multi-scale texture dimples with some specific formula arrays were fabricated by laser ablation process by combining circles and ellipses. The tribological testing of multi-scale textured surface was performed by a flat-on-flat unidirectional tribometer under lubrication, and the results compared with that of untextured surface. Through an increase in sliding speed and dimple depth the beneficial effect of multi-scale LST performance was achieved. The multi-scale textured surface had lower friction coefficient performance than the untextured surface due to hydrodynamic lubrication effect.