Friction and wear properties of zirconium and niobium in a hydrogen environment

• Published in: Wear Vol. 268; no. 5; pp. 721 - 729
• Main Authors: Murakami, T., Mano, H., Kaneda, K., Hata, M., Sasaki, S., Sugimura, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 11.02.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Friction, wear, lubrication; Hydride; Hydrogen gas; Machine components; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Solid lubrication; Spark plasma sintering; Solid lubrication; Spark plasma sintering; Hydride; Hydrogen gas; Solid lubricant; Wear particle; X ray radiography; X ray diffraction; Zirconium; Vacuum; Sintering; Friction coefficient; Friction test; Pin disk test; Tribology
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2009.11.022

In this study, the tribological properties of Zr and Nb sliding against themselves are investigated using a pin-on-disk tribometer in a H 2 gas atmosphere, He gas atmosphere, air and vacuum. Both the Zr and Nb disk specimens exhibit lower friction coefficients in the H 2 gas atmosphere than in air, He gas atmosphere and vacuum. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the wear particles formed by sliding the Zr and Nb disk specimens in the H 2 gas atmosphere consist mainly of the ZrH 2 phase (ɛ phase) and NbH phase (β phase), respectively. Also, X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the wear particles, which are formed by sliding the Zr and Nb disk specimens in air, consist mainly of the αZr and Nb phases, respectively.