Tribochemistry dependence of Ni62Nb33Zr5 bulk metallic glass on the Cr content of steel counterparts

• Published in: Tribology international Vol. 198; p. 109923
• Main Authors: Colas, Guillaume, Marco de Lucas, María del Carmen, Imhoff, Luc, Heintz, Olivier, Daudin, Rémi, Lenain, Alexis, Gravier, Sébastien, Cornuault, Pierre-Henri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Material chemistry; Metallic glass; Tribochemistry; Tribology; Tribochemistry; Metallic glass; Tribology
• ISSN: 0301-679X; 1879-2464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2024.109923

Recent literature showed that Bulk Metallic Glasses can demonstrate repeatable tribological response, and that it might be controlled through a careful selection of the sliding counterpart’s composition. The present study focuses on the effect of Cr content of a steel ball sliding over a Ni62Nb33Zr5 BMG. Three different steels were chosen (C90, 100Cr6, and X105CrMo17) because they demonstrate similar constitutive elements, similar mechanical properties, but different Cr contents. Increasing Cr content resulted in an increase of friction coefficient from 0.13 to 0.85 while maintaining extremely low wear. In depth chemical analysis showed that increasing Cr content favors the loss of the ductile Nb2O5 of protective FeNbO4, and NiNb-oxide to the benefit of NiCrO, CrNbO4, NiFe-oxides, and Cr(VI) oxide. [Display omitted] •Ni62Nb33Zr5 BMG shows very low wear in dry friction against three different steel.•Cr in steel (from 0 % to 17 %) however drives friction coefficient from 0.15 to 0.85.•Cr favors the loss of lubricious Nb2O5, FeNb- and NiNb- oxides.•Cr favors the creation of protective CrNbO4, NiCr- and NiFe- oxides.•Ni62Nb33Zr5 demonstrates applicability in non-lubricated application.