OXIDATIONAL WEAR OF TIN COATINGS ON TOOL STEEL AND NITRIDED TOOL STEEL IN UNLUBRICATED FRETTING

Abstract

The fretting wear behaviour of PVD TiN coatings against corundum has been investigated in unlubricated contacts. Analysis of the debris indicated that titanium oxides of different composition are being generated, The volumetric wear on the TiN coatings is shown to be directly proportional to the dissipated friction energy measured on-line during the fretting tests. Furthermore, the effect of oxide debris present in the vibrating contact on the velocity accommodation and, consequently, on the coefficient of friction is discussed. The hardness of some of the ASP 23 tool steel substrates was increased with a plasma nitriding treatment prior to the coating deposition. It was found that the coefficient of friction and the fretting wear rate of the TiN coatings remain unaltered by the plasma nitriding treatment. After perforation of the TIN coating, however, wear proceeds faster on nitrided tool steel substrates.