tribology – TechConnect Briefs

Abrasive scanning with AFM on biocompatible polymers: measuring dry vs. swollen film thickness and probing properties

Haugstad G., Wormuth K., University of Minnesota, US

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is well-known as a tool for imaging surface topography down to subnanometer scales on all forms of matter, utilizing a scanning stylus (“tip”). The method is applicable to biomolecules adsorbed to [...]

Correlation of Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Dry Sliding Nanocrystalline Diamond Coatings

Wiora M., Sadrifar N., Brühne K., Gluche P., Fecht H-J., Ulm University, DE

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) offers great potential for many micro-mechanical systems, particularly where low friction, reliability and mechanical integrity are of great importance. The reduction of grain size in NCD films to several nanometers is, however, [...]

Tribological studies of conventional microcrystalline and engineered near-nanocrystalline WC-17Co HVOF coatings

Saha G., Mateen A., Khan T., University of Calgary, CA

Tungsten carbide based cermet composite coatings possess the unique surface protection properties enabling their increasing use in the oil sands industry to combat severe sliding and high stress abrasion wear and other types of slurry [...]

Modification of rubber surface with hydrogenated diamond-like carbon thin films

Pei Y.T., Bui X.L., De Hosson J.Th.M., University of Groningen, NL

Thin films of hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC) have been deposited on hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) for reduction of friction and enhancement of wear resistance of dynamic rubber seals, by sputtering graphite targets in C2H2/Ar [...]

Use of Lateral Force Microscopy to Elucidate Cooperativity and Molecular Mobility in Amorphous Polymers and Self-Assembling Molecular Glasses

Knorr Jr. D.B., Killgore J.P., Gray T.O., Overney R.M., University of Washington, US

A novel scanning probe methodology based on lateral force microscopy is presented wherein kinetic friction measurements, obtained as a function of velocity for various temperatures, are used to deduce apparent Arrhenius-type activation energies for surface [...]

Nano-diamond Coatings on Aluminum 319 for Improved Tribological Properties

Blum R., Kalyanasundaram D., Nair R., Molian P., Iowa State University, US

Laser-induced phase transition and sintering of nano-diamond powders (4-8nm) was used to produce a thick (10-50um) strongly adherent nano-diamond/diamond-like carbon (nD-DLC) coatings on aluminum alloy 319. A transition to diamond-like carbon produced a Vickers hardness [...]

Understanding and utilizing molecular constraints in nanoscale material designs

Sills S., Overney R.M., Micron Technology, Inc., US

Challenges regarding nanoscale material designs often arise from the collision of two sets of critical length-scales; namely, device dimensions approach the length scale of molecular-level processes. On one hand, these finite size constraints cannot be [...]

Microstructure Changes Induced by Low-energy High-temperature Nitrogen Ion Implantation on Vanadium-Titanium Alloys

Varela M., García J.A., Rodríguez R., Ballesteros C., Univ. Carlos III de Madrid, ES

A detailed structural characterization of unimplanted and low-energy, nitrogen implanted V5at.%Ti alloy is presented. The alloys were produced by repeated arc melting in a high-purity He atmosphere. Samples were nitrogen-implanted at 1,2 kV and 1 [...]