The Influence of Steel Pair Composition on the Tribological Behavior of DLC Films in Electrified Contact
摘要
The sliding components in electrical contact mechanical systems have created new lubrication demands. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are promising candidates for electrical contact lubrication. This work compared the friction and wear properties of diamond-like carbon (DLC) film against different steel pairs in the presence or absence of current. The results indicated that the DLC/GCr15 steel exhibited friction reduction under electrified conditions. Conversely, the friction of the DLC/9Cr18 steel interface had an increasing trend as the current increased. For both steel pairs, the wear of DLC film became more pronounced with increasing current. The friction and wear behaviors were linked to the current-induced tribo-film at sliding interfaces for two DLC/steel contacts, mainly containing carbon and metal oxides. The chromium content of steel pairs was a key factor that controlled the friction behavior of the electrified contact systems. The iron and chromium oxides were related to the friction reduction of GCr15 steel with low Cr content and friction rise of 9Cr18 steel containing high Cr content, respectively. This suggests that the chemical composition of sliding pairs strongly affects the friction behavior of DLC film in electrified contacts, which is important for the electrical contact lubrication of DLC films.