Assessment and application of TiB2 coating in sliding pair under lubrication conditions

The aim of the present work is to determine the influence of TiB2 coating on the friction parameters in sliding pairs under lubricated friction conditions. The TiB2 coating deposited on modified surface layers of ring specimens made of AISI 5045 steel was matched under test conditions with counterparts made from SAE-783 and SAE-48 bearing alloys. Tested sliding pairs were lubricated with 5 W/40 Lotos synthetic engine oil. Tribological properties of the TiB2 coating were measured using a block-on-ring tribometer. The applied modification technology of the surface layer of steel allowed for obtaining construction material with pre-determined tribological characteristics required for the elements of sliding pairs in lubricated contact. The results showed differences in the wear of bearing alloys, as a result of the interaction between co-operating surface layers and of the physiochemical changes of their surfaces, induced by external forces. Friction resistance and temperature in the friction area in the pair with TiB2 coating and the SAE-783 bearing alloy are considerably higher than in the pair with the SAE-48 bearing alloy. The SAE-48 bearing alloy is subjected to more intensive wear processes in contact with the TiB2 coating than the SAE-783 bearing alloy.