In situ mechanochemical reconditioning of worn ferrous surfaces

The concept of in situ mechanochemical reconditioning of worn tribosurfaces in tribological fluid-dependent machinery was formed. In accordance with it, a reconditioner package was developed and its formulation chemistry was described in brief. Emphases were given to a full demonstration of the effectiveness of the reconditioner package in field trials of railway diesel engines and corresponding laboratory validations. The former highlighted the visual appearance of disassembled key diesel engine parts of a high power locomotive, and the latter pinpointed structural characterization of the protective layer formed on the cylinder bore of the locomotive diesel engine. Also, the nano-hardness, surface roughness, and the coefficient of friction of the protective layer were measured. A possible generation mechanism of the protective layer was suggested with ESCA data of the protective layer depth profile.