• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.319-328
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• 2000

Silver is known to have such characteristics as low shear strength, good transfer-film forming tendency, and good corrosion resistance. Silver thin films have been prepared by ion plating of physical vapour deposition (PVD) using both argon gas pressure and bias voltage of processing condition. After the silver films were prepared, the properties in them were examined by gas pressure and bias voltage of substrate. Their morphology and crystal orientation were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractor. The properties of film were, also, studied to relate with morphology, X-ray diffraction pattern, and friction coefficient at vacuum ambient. The friction coefficient was stabilized remarkably on deposited films with increasing argon pressure for deposition. Also, the effect of increasing of the bias voltage for deposition resulted in lower friction coefficient and stability in $1.7$\times$10^{-4}$ torr. On the contrary, behavior of friction coefficient was stabilized on deposited films with decreasing the bias voltage in $1.7$\times$10^{-5}$ torr for deposition.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.317-322
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• 2019

In spite of progress in tribological research, machine component failure due to friction and wear has been reported frequently. This failure may lead to secondary damage that can cause huge expense for maintenance and repair. To prevent economic loss, it is important to detect and predict the initial failure point. In this sense, various researchers have been tried to develop Condition Monitoring (CM) method using Acoustic Emission (AE) generated while the materials undergo failure. In this study, effect of particles on friction and wear was investigated using the pin-on-plate friction test and AE signal was recorded with a band-width type AE sensor. The experiments were performed in dry and lubricant conditions using steel and glass as specimens. After the experiment, 3D laser microscope image was captured to evaluate the wear behavior quantitatively. The AE signal was analyzed in time-domain and frequency-domain. The amplitude was compared with the frictional results. The results of this study showed that particle generation accelerate wear, generate high magnitude AE signal and change the frequency characteristics of the signal. Also, lubricant condition test results showed low coefficient of friction, low wear rate, and low magnitude of AE signal compared to the dry condition. It is expected that the results of this study will aid in better assessment of wear in CM technology

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.310-316
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• 2019

This paper presents two methods for designing a high-speed air spindle operated over the rotational speed of 50,000 rpm. The first method is an approximate method, which assumes a symmetric spindle shape even though it is not symmetric in reality. The second is an analysis of rotordynamics using beam and solid models. The approximate method can be used to calculate the bearing load capacities, stiffness and damping coefficients, stability of the shaft system, and response of the forced excitation from the unbalanced mass. Designers can use this method to determine the dimensions of the desired spindle at the first stage of the design. The more detailed behavior of the spindle can be calculated using the rotordynamics theory using beam and solid models based on the Finite Element Method. In this paper, a spindle, with two air bearings, one motor at the end, and two air thrust bearings, is newly developed. The solutions from the two rotordynamics theories are compared with the solution obtained using the approximate method. The three calculations are in agreement, and the procedure for the design of a spindle system, supported on the externally pressurized air bearings, ispresented and discussed.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.62-70
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• 2021

The problem with intermetallics coating using the heat of molten casting is that the heat generated during combustion synthesis dissolves the coating and the substrate metal. This study investigates whether pre-annealing before synthesis can control the reaction heat, with the aim of Ni₃Al coating on the casting surface. Therefore, the effects of the annealing temperature and time on the combustion synthesis behavior of the powder compact of Ni-25at%Al after annealing were investigated. As results, the reaction heat when synthesized decreased as the annealing temperature was high and the annealing time was longer. This was attributed to the fact that Al was diffused to Ni particles during low temperature annealing and intermediate Ni-Al compounds were formed during high temperature annealing. After combustion synthesis, however, it was found that their microstructures were almost identical except for the amount of intermediate intermetallics. Furthermore, an annealing temperature above 450℃, at which intermediate compounds begin to form, is needed to prevent the dissolving problem during synthesizing. The intermetallics synthesized after annealing at higher temperature and prolonger annealing time showed a good wear resistance. This might be because much intermediate intermetallics of high hardness were remained in the microstructure.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2022

This study presents experimental measurements of the rotordynamic performance of a motor-driven small turbocompressor supported by gas beam foil journal bearings (GBFJBs) and compares the test results with the predictions of a computational model. The experiments confirmed that the rotational synchronous frequency component dominates the behavior of the overall rotor vibrations, whereas the nonsynchronous components are insignificant, indicating the rotor-bearing system remains stable up to 100 krpm. The undamped natural frequency and imbalanced response of the rotor-bearing system are predicted when integrating the finite element model of the rotor-bearing system with the predictions of the bearing dynamic coefficients. The results are in good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, base excitation test results show that the small turbocompressor can endure large external forces and demonstrate limited rotor amplitudes. A simple single degreeof-freedom rotor model using the nonlinear stiffness of the GBFJBs can effectively predict the test results.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2022

In this research, the rotordynamic characteristics of the labyrinth seal with and without swirl brake were predicted using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model. Based on previous studies, a simple swirl brake consisting of square vanes without stagger angle is designed and placed in front of the seal inlet. The rotating frame of reference is utilized to consider the whirling motion of the rotor in the steady-state analysis since the whirling motion is transient behavior in nature. CFD analysis was performed in the range of -1 to 1 pre-swirl ratio for a given seal and swirl brake design and operating conditions. The CFD analysis result shows that the swirl brake effectively reduces the pre-swirl since the circumferential fluid velocity of labyrinth seal with swirl brake was lower than that without swirl brake. The cross-coupled stiffness coefficient, which is greatly affected by the circumferential fluid velocity, increased with an increasing pre-swirl ratio in a seal without a swirl brake but showed a low value in a seal with a swirl brake. The change in the damping coefficient was relatively small. The effective damping coefficient of the labyrinth seal with swirl brake was generally constant and showed a higher value than the labyrinth seal without swirl brake.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.273-277
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• 2023

This paper presents a molecular dynamics simulation-based numerical investigation of the influence of surface energy on water lubrication. Models composed of a crystalline substrate, half cylindrical tip, and cluster of water molecules are prepared for a tribological-characteristic evaluation. To determine the effect of surface energy on lubrication, the surface energy between the substrate and water molecules as well as that between the tip and water molecules are controlled by changing the interatomic potential parameters. Simulations are conducted to investigate the indentation and sliding processes. Three different normal forces are applied to the system by controlling the indentation depth to examine the influence of normal force on the lubrication of the system. The simulation results reveal that the solid surface's surface energy and normal force significantly affect the behavior of the water molecules and lubrication characteristics. The lubrication characteristics of the water molecules deteriorate with the increasing magnitude of the normal force. At a low surface energy, the water molecules are readily squeezed out of the interface under a load, thus increasing the frictional force. Contrarily, a moderate surface energy prevents expulsion of the water molecules due to squeezing, resulting in a low frictional force. At a high surface energy, although squeezing of the water molecules is restricted, similar to the case of moderate surface energy, dragging occurs at the soil surface-water molecule interface, and the frictional force increases.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.78-83
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• 2024

The development of eco-friendly alternative energy sources has become a global priority owing to the depletion of fossil fuels and an increase in environmental concerns. Hydrogen energy has emerged as a promising clean energy source, and hydrogen compressors play a crucial role in the storage and distribution of compressed hydrogen. However, harsh operating conditions lead to the rapid deterioration of conventional lubricants in hydrogen compressors, thereby necessitating the development of advanced lubrication technologies. This study introduces micrometer-sized silicone rubber powders as lubricant additives to enhance the lubrication performance of hydraulic oils in hydrogen compressors. We prepare silicone rubber powders by varying the ratio of the silicone rubber base to the curing agent and investigate their effects on interfacial properties, friction behavior, and wear characteristics. The findings reveal that the incorporation of silicone rubber powders positively influences the surface affinity, wettability, friction reduction, and wear resistance of the lubricants on the 304SS substrate. Moreover, we identify the optimal lubricant formulations, with a 15:1 ratio demonstrating the most effective friction reduction and a 5:1 ratio exhibiting the highest wear resistance. The controlled surface modification by the silicone rubber powder and the enhanced interfacial characteristics of the powder-containing lubricants synergistically contribute to the improved lubrication performance. These results indicate the potential of silicone rubber powder additives for the development of long-life lubrication solutions for hydrogen compressors and related applications, ultimately contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy technologies.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.84-90
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• 2024

This study investigates the effect of the surface microstructure on the tribological characteristics of glass substrates. Chemical etching using hydrofluoric acid and ammonium hydrogen fluoride was employed to create controlled asperity structures on glass surfaces. By varying the etching time from 10 to 50 min, different surface morphologies were obtained and characterized using optical microscopy, surface roughness measurements, and water contact angle analysis. Friction tests were performed using a stainless steel ball as the counter surface to evaluate the tribological behavior of the etched specimens. The results showed that the specimen etched for 20 min exhibited the lowest and most stable friction coefficient, which was attributed to the formation of a uniform and dense asperity structure that effectively reduced the stress concentration and wear at the contact interface. In contrast, specimens etched for shorter (10 min) or longer (30-50 min) durations displayed higher friction coefficients and accelerated wear owing to nonuniform asperity structures that led to local stress concentration. Optical microscopy of the wear tracks further confirmed the superior wear resistance of the 20-minute etched specimen. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing the etching process parameters to achieve the desired surface morphology for enhanced tribological performance, suggesting the potential of chemical etching as a surface modification technique for various materials in tribological applications.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.258-263
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• 2013

4 mol% Yttria-stabilized zirconia (4YSZ) coatings are fabricated by Air Plasma Spray (APS) and Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) with top coating of thermal barrier coating (TBC). NiCrAlY based bond coat is prepared as 150 ${\mu}m$ thickness by conventional APS (Air Plasma Spray) method on the NiCrCoAl alloy substrate before deposition of top coating. Each 4YSZ top coating shows different tribological behaviors based on the inherent layer structures. 4YSZ by APS which has splat-stacked structure shows lower friction coefficient but higher wear rate than 4YSZ by EB-PVD which has columnar structure. For 4YSZ by APS, such results are expected due to the sliding wear accompanied with local delamination of splats.