ISSN 1068798X, Russian Engineering Research, 2012, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 111–113. © Allerton Press, Inc., 2012.
Original Russian Text © N.K. Krioni, 2011, published in STIN, 2011, No. 10, pp. 37–40.
Frictional Properties of Metallic Surfaces Separated
by a Solid Lubricant Film at High Temperature
N. K. Krioni
Ufa State AviationTechnology University, Ufa
DOI: 10.3103/S1068798X12010157
The surface of solids is usually coated with films
whose character and properties depend on the atmo
sphere—for example, oxide films, films of adsorbed
material, contaminants, and natural boundary films.
Such films have a significant influence on the con
tact between solids. Countless factors affect the prop
erties of adsorbed and chemisorbed films on solid sur
faces. In some cases, modification of the surface is
possible if the operating conditions of the joint may be
taken into account and the likelihood of various per
turbing factors may be minimized. Some modifying
treatments include the application of solid films—in
particular, solid lubricant coatings—to frictional sur
faces. The function of such solid films is to confer
required operational properties on the contact sur
faces of machine parts, such as wear resistance, anti
frictional properties, normal and tangential rigidity,
and electrical and thermal conductivity.
We focus here on solid lubricant coatings, which
are increasingly popular, especially in conditions of
extreme friction. Even in regular frictional systems,
the use of solid lubricant coatings simplifies the design.
In the present work, we analyze the performance of
solid lubricant coatings applied by means of polymer
and metallic binder, in the light of the operating con
ditions of mobile joints in machine parts, their func
tion, their specified life, and the operational require
ments. In particular, we take account of the tempera
ture on the frictional properties of solid lubricant
coatings: the tangential τn and normal Pr contact stress
and the molecular component fm of the frictional coef
ficient.
In accordance with the molecular–mechanical the
ory of friction, we assume that friction is a dual process:
the molecular component fm of the frictional coefficient
depends on the adhesion of the contact surfaces, while
the deformational component fg of the frictional coeffi
cient is determined by the contact deformation of the
rough contact surfaces [1]. We know that the molecular
interaction has the greater influence on the frictional
coefficient: fm /fg = 2–100 [1].
To find the molecular component fm of the fric
tional coefficient, we need to determine the tangential
stress in the contact zones due to atomic and molecu
111
lar interactions. In the present work, we determine the
tangential and normal stress at the frictional contact
on the basis of the simple and reliable method in [2].
We select solid lubricant coatings with different types
of binder and solid antifrictional fillers: VNIINP209,
VNIINP213, and VNIINP504; Molykote 321R and
Molykote 3400A (molybdenum sulfide and polymer
binder); and graphite coatings with polymer binder
and nickel–graphite coatings (graphite with metal
binder). The plate samples with coating films are pro
duced from different structural materials: 40X steel,
EP718VD alloy, EI415Yu alloy, and VT9 hard alloy.
The coating films on the plates are formed in accor
dance with the relevant standards.
The load on the frictional system is selected so as to
ensure plastic deformation. As shown by measure
ments, the relative indenter introduction is no more
than 0.12–0.15.
The influence of the lubricantfilm thickness on
the mean tangential stress τn is of great interest. To
investigate this influence, solid lubricant coatings are
applied to plane samples (thickness 5–25 μm) and τn
is determined. The results indicate that, within the
given range, the film thickness has no significant influ
ence on the mean tangential stress. Note, however,
that the spread in the mean tangential stress increases
with increase in film thickness. It reaches 10–25% at a
confidence level α = 0.95. This is because the mea
surement of the crater diameter becomes more diffi
cult with increase in film thickness, since some of the
lubricant is forced out of the contact zone in the form
of small particles; this hinders measurement of the
crater diameter. Therefore, in the subsequent tests, we
employ a film thickness of 8–10 μm).
To determine the dependence of the mean tangen
tial stress due to atomic and molecular interactions on
the normal stress at contact, we investigate the solid
lubricant coatings by the interchangeablesubstrate
method [2]. In this approach, a spherical indenter is
compressed between plane samples to which the thin
lubricant films are applied. The film thickness must be
such that its mechanical properties have no influence
on the mean normal stress at contact due to the
mechanical properties of the substrate. In that case,
the contacting materials will be unaffected by change
112 KRIONI

τn, MPa τn, MPa (a) (b)

60
1 200
40 1
2 150
Pr, MPa
20 100
80 2 80
0 4
400 800 1200 60
Pr, MPa 4 60 2 1
40 6 6
40 5
Fig. 1. Dependence of the mean tangential stress τn on 5
the normal stress Pr: (1) Molykote 321R coating; 3 3
(2) VNIINP209 coating. 20 20
0 100 200 300 0 100 200 300
T, °C T, °C
in the mean normal stress at contact. By changing the ϕ (c) fm (d)
mean normal stress at contact on the basis of the sub
0.5 0.12 1
strates, we may obtain the dependence of the mean 2
tangential stress on the normal stress for the coating 0.4 6
material. In the given case, solid lubricant coatings of 0.08
0.3
thickness 8–10 μm are applied to the substrate, which 3 6 5
consists of 45, 1X18H10T, or У8 steel or the alloys 0.2 0.04
KhN55BMKYu and KhN60VT. Thus, the contact 0.1
4 3
materials are unchanged with variation in the mean
normal stress at contact. As shown by our research, the 100 200 0 100 200 300
mean tangential stress due to atomic and molecular T, °C T, °C
interactions is a function of the normal stress at con
tact at different temperatures. The dependence of the Fig. 2. Dependence of the tangential stress τn (a) and the
mean tangential stress τn on the normal stress Pr is lin normal stress Pr (b) at contact, the relative hardness ϕ of
the coatings (c), and the molecular component fm of the
ear (Fig. 1). frictional coefficient (d) on the temperature T: (1) graph
ite–polymer coating on EP718VD alloy; (2) VNIINP213
The frictional characteristics when using solid coating on 40X steel; (3) Molykote 321R coating on VT9
lubricant coatings based on polymer binding are alloy; (4) VNIINP504 coating on EI415Yu alloy;
shown in Fig. 2. Specifically, we plot the tangential (5) VNIINP209 coating on 40X steel; (6) Molykote
stress τn and the normal stress Pr at contact as a func 3400A coating on VT9 alloy.
tion of the temperature T.
The resulting curves of the mean tangential stress τn The normal stress Pr varies linearly with the tem
on the temperature T (Fig. 2a) include a minimum at perature T in all the tests (Fig. 2b). In Fig. 2d, we show
temperatures that depend on the substrate employed. the molecular component fm of the frictional coeffi
For example, for VNIINP209 and VNIINP213 cient as a function of the contact temperature for all
coatings on 40X steel, the minimum of τn corresponds the samples (solid lubricant coatings on a metal sur
to around 180°C. However, there is a significant differ face).
ence in the tangential stress when using these materi The largest molecular component fm of the fric
als, on account of the different hardness of the coat tional coefficient (0.13) is recorded at 20°C for a
ings. VNIINP209 and VNIINP213 coatings consist graphite–polymer coating on EP718VD alloy with a
of the same components and differ in the ratio of the VK6M alloy indenter. For the other coatings with this
solid phase and the binder (1:1 and 1:3, respectively); indenter, fm = 0.020–0.035 in the range 200–400°C.
correspondingly, the hardness of VNIINP213 coating In other words, it is significantly lower than the values
is higher. The influence of the coating hardness on τn in the absence of lubricant (0.1–0.2 or more).
is also seen for Molykote 3400A coatings (molybde
num disulfide, thermostable tar, and additives) and Note that the tangential and normal contact stress
Molykote 321R coatings (molybdenum disulfide and and the molecular component of the frictional coeffi
inorganic binder) on VT9 alloy. The Molykote coat cient are not significantly different when using the
ings differ in the dependence of the relative hardness ϕ same coating with a polymer binder (VNIINP213) on
on the temperature T (Fig. 2c). This corresponds to different surfaces (40X and VT9 alloy) with similar phys
the variation in the contact tangential stress with vari icomechanical properties (strength, hardness, etc.).
ation in the temperature when different Molykote The results are obtained on the assumption that the
coatings are used on VT9 alloy. indenter (ball) and plane (coated plate) are in contact

RUSSIAN ENGINEERING RESEARCH Vol. 32 No. 1 2012

 FRICTIONAL PROPERTIES OF METALLIC SURFACES 113

(a) (b) (c) (a) (b) (c)

fm τn, MPa Pr, MPa fm τn, MPa Pr, MPa
0.10 2 0.12 1
2 60 2 60 2 2000
0.06 0.08 200
1 40 40 1 1 1 1000 2
1 0.04 100 2
0.02
0 0
200 400 600 200 400 600 200 400 600 0 200 400 600 0 200 400 600 0 200 400 600
T, °C T, °C T, °C T, °C T, °C T, °C

Fig. 3. Dependence of fm (a), τn (b), and Pr (c) on the tem

perature T in the friction of a VK6M indenter on a nickel– Fig. 4. Dependence of fm (a), τn (b), and Pr (c) on the tem
graphite coating applied to EP708 alloy: (1) coating with perature T: (1) graphite–polymer coating on EP718 alloy;
out additional treatment; (2) coating with additional treat (2) nickel–graphite coating with additional treatment
ment (compression). (compression).

over the whole surface of the impression. This assump
tion is confirmed by electronmicroscopic data for the
contact zones of the deformed sections of samples. It
is found that the craters (impressions) on the plane
after tests at temperatures up to 400°C are geometri
cally regular, with low surface roughness.
Solid lubricant coatings with metallic binders are
also of practical interest. In the present work, we
determine the frictional properties of a nickel–graph
ite coating applied to an EP708 alloy plate in the range
225–730°C, by means of a singleball instrument [3].
The graphite, coated with nickel by an inplant tech
nology, is applied to the surface of the plates by plasma
sputtering. In the tests, we use coatings without addi
tional treatment after application and also coatings
with additional mechanical compression of half the
film thickness. The results for τn, Pr, and fm are plotted
in Fig. 3.
The nickel–graphite coating applied to the basic
material without additional treatment is characterized
by low strength and is readily deformed under load, as
indicated by the low normal contact stress Pr. When
using this coating, the normal stress declines from
331 MPa at 200°C to 225 MPa at 730°C. Note that, in
this temperature range, the molecular component of
the frictional coefficient is no more than 0.044. Addi
tional mechanical compression of the film signifi
cantly improves the frictional properties of the film.
On such treatment, its strength and hardness both
increase. The molecular component fm of the frictional
coefficient also increases. At 650–730°C, the charac
teristics of the two coatings are practically the same
(Fig. 4).
The temperature dependences of fm, τn, and Pr are of
practically the same form for coatings with polymer and
metal binders, although they lie in differ temperature
ranges. Up to 500°C, coatings with polymer binder are
preferable; they are characterized by lower molecular
component of the frictional coefficient. Above 500°C,
coatings with metal binder are preferable.
Thus, for the solid lubricant coatings here consid
ered, the tangential stress and the molecular compo
nent of the frictional coefficient depend significantly
on the temperature, the materials in the coating, and
the contacting material. In a particular temperature
range that depends on the lubricant components, the
tangential stress and the molecular component fm of
the frictional coefficient reach a minimum. The mate
rials of the substrate and indenter must be selected so
as to avoid structural and phase transformations that
might reduce their load capacity at the temperatures of
interest.
REFERENCES
1. Kragel’skii, I.V., Trenie i iznos (Friction and Wear),
Moscow: Mashinostroenie, 1968.
2. Mikhin, N.M., Trenie v usloviyakh plasticheskogo kon
takta (Friction in Plastic Contact), Moscow: Nauka,
1968.
3. Krioni, N.K. and Mikhin, N.M., Equipment for Inves
tigating the Frictional Properties of Materials at Nor
mal and High Temperatures, Zavod. Lab., 1985, no. 3,
pp. 36–39.

RUSSIAN ENGINEERING RESEARCH Vol. 32 No. 1 2012