Assessment and Optimization of Tribological Parameters for Bionic Textured AISI 4140-SnAgCu Self-Lubricating Composite Under Dry Sliding Conditions Using AHP and RSM

Abstract

Herein, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and central composite experimental design in response surface methodology (CCD-RSM) are used to evaluate and optimize the tribological parameters of bionic textured AISI 4140-SnAgCu self-lubricating composite under the conditions of load (L: 20–40 N), velocity (V: 16–32 mm/s), and distance (D: 40–80 m). AISI 4140 biomimetic composites exhibit excellent tribological properties under the conditions of L_27.15/V_16.43/D₄₀, L_27.05/V_17.08/D₆₀, and L_27.42/V_17.85/D₈₀, respectively. The sensitivities of influence factors on the tribological overall score are load, velocity, and distance, in order from high to low. The good antifriction properties of self-lubricating composites under conditions with the optimized tribological parameters benefit from the fact that the solid lubricants are uniformly spread at the contact interface.

Keywords:

• Tribological parameters
• AISI 4140 steel
• assessment
• optimization
• bionic texture

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515010624). The authors are also grateful to X. L. Nie, Y. M. Li, M. J. Yang, W. T. Zhu, S. L. Zhao, and L. Q. Qin in the Material Research and Test Center of WUT for their kind help with SEM, XRD, EPMA, and FESEM.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515010624). The authors are also grateful to X. L. Nie, Y. M. Li, M. J. Yang, W. T. Zhu, S. L. Zhao, and L. Q. Qin in the Material Research and Test Center of WUT for their kind help with SEM, XRD, EPMA, and FESEM.