The effect of laser texturing of SiC surface on the critical load for the transition of water lubrication mode from hydrodynamic to mixed

Experiments were carried out to verify if the low friction range of SiC in water lubrication can be expanded by micro-pores on the contact surface. Pores were formed by laser, with a diameter of 150 μm and a depth of about 8–10 μm and were distributed in a square array on the contact surface. Seven kinds of textured specimens with different intervals between the pores were tested and compared with the untextured specimen. The effect of the pore area ratio on friction coefficient and the critical load for the transition from hydrodynamic lubrication to mixed lubrication was reported and discussed.