Fretting friction properties of laser surface texture microfilaments

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to improve the wear resistance of metal rubber microfilaments and the service life. The effect of surface texture by laser processing on the fretting friction properties of metal rubber microfilaments was studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The LQL-F20A laser marking machine was used to fabricate a ring groove array with equal spacing and dense arrangement on the surface of metal rubber microfilaments. The test was carried out with a self-made micro-dynamic frictional tester. The topography of the microfilaments was observed by scanning electron microscopy and analyzed.

Findings

It has shown that laser surface texturing can improve the wear performance of microfilaments. Under the same experimental conditions, the microfilaments of textured surface has a smaller depth of wear than un-textured specimen. The wear resistance increases with the increase of texture density. The friction coefficient of textured specimen is significantly reduced compared with un-textured specimen, and the surface texture density of microfilaments has little influence on the friction coefficient after stabilization. In the stage of stable fretting wear, the wear depth will be more with the increase of the load.

Originality/value

There is little research on metal rubber microfilaments tribological properties. In this paper, the effect of laser texturing of microfilaments on micro-dynamic friction properties was studied by friction machine to provide a reference for the application of metal rubber in aerospace, medical and other fields.

Citation

Li, K., Dong, X., Huang, M. and Chen, P. (2020), "Fretting friction properties of laser surface texture microfilaments", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 72 No. 3, pp. 427-431. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-07-2019-0242