Friction and Wear Behavior of Single-Phase Fe₂B Bulk under Dry Sliding Condition

ABSTRACT

The effects of normal load and velocity on the friction and wear behavior of single-phase Fe₂B bulk have been investigated by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results indicate that the friction coefficient and wear rate both decrease at first and then increase with increasing load and velocity, respectively. Attributed to the formation of a lamellar film on the Fe₂B surface, the lowest friction coefficient and wear rate are obtained at a velocity of 0.2 m/s under a load of 12 N. The dynamic friction coefficients under loads of 4 and 12 N are around 0.8 in the initial steady stage and then decrease to about 0.6, whereas the friction coefficient at 20 N shows no obvious change and remains around 0.82. The lubricating film consisting of Fe₂O₃, B₂O₃, SiO₂, and H₃BO₃ reduces the friction coefficient at 0.2 m/s under a load of 12 N.

KEYWORDS:

• Fe₂B
• borides
• solid lubrication
• friction
• XPS
• wear

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51571159 and 51371138), the Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province in China (No. 2015B090926009), and the Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou City in China (No. 201604046009).