Effect of precursor content and sintering temperature on the scuffing resistance of sintered self lubricating steel

• Published in: Wear Vol. 271; no. 9; pp. 1862 - 1867
• Main Authors: de Mello, José Daniel B., Binder, Cristiano, Binder, Roberto, Klein, Aloisio N.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 29.07.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Contact of materials. Friction. Wear; Exact sciences and technology; Friction, wear, lubrication; Graphite; In situ; Lubrication; Machine components; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Mechanical properties and methods of testing. Rheology. Fracture mechanics. Tribology; Metals. Metallurgy; Particulate composites; Precursors; Scuffing; Scuffing resistance; Self lubricating steel; Sintering; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Steels; Self lubricating steel; Scuffing resistance; In situ; Solid lubricant; Adhesive wear; Scuffing; Metal powder; Sintered steel; Composition effect; Solid particle; Composite material; Sintered metal; Nanometer scale; Silicon carbide; Sintering; Concentration effect; Graphite; Friction coefficient; Injection molding; Self lubricating material; Tribology
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2010.11.038

► In situ formation of graphite nodules due to the dissociation of precursor (SiC particles). ► The nodules of graphite (size ≤20 nm) presented a nanostructured stacking of graphite foils a few nanometers thick. ► The thermal debinding, as well as the sintering, was performed in a single thermal cycle using a Plasma Assisted Debinding and Sintering (PADS) process. ► Increasing the precursor content and, as a consequence, the number of graphite nodules, produced a clear increase in scuffing resistance. ► Friction coefficient was little affected by the sintering temperature. However, the scuffing resistance was greatly increased (5×) for the lower sintering temperature. The production of self lubrication composites containing second phase particles incorporated into the volume of the material appears to be a promising solution. A new processing route to obtaining a homogeneous dispersion of discrete solid lubricant particles in the volume of sintered steels produced by metal injection molding (MIM) was recently presented. This new route was achieved by in situ formation of graphite nodules due to the dissociation of precursor (SiC particles) mixed with the metallic matrix powders during the feedstock preparation. Nodules of graphite (size ≤20 μm) presenting a nanostructured stacking of graphite foils a few nanometers thick were obtained. The thermal debinding, as well as the sintering, was performed in a single thermal cycle using a Plasma Assisted Debinding and Sintering (PADS) process. In this work, we present and discuss the effect of precursor content and sintering temperature on the scuffing resistance of plasma assisted debinded and sintered self lubricating steel produced by metal injection mould technique. Three different temperatures (1100, 1150 and 1200 °C) and six different SiC contents (0–5%) were analyzed. Increasing the precursor content and, as a consequence, the number of graphite nodules, produced a clear increase in scuffing resistance for all analyzed sintering temperatures. Friction coefficient was little affected by the sintering temperature. However, the scuffing resistance was greatly increased (5×) for the lower sintering temperature (1100 °C).