• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.344-350
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• 2011

Friction and wear behavior of tungsten oxide nanorods (TONs) was investigated using friction force microscopy(FFM) employing colloidal probes instead of conventional sharp tips. Vertically well-ordered TONs with 40 nm diameter, 130 nm length and 100 nm pitch width were synthesized on an anodic aluminium oxide substrate using two step electrochemical anodizing processes. The colloidal probe (diameter 20 ${\mu}m$) attached at the free end of tipless cantilever was oscillated(scanned) against a stationary surface of vertically aligned TONs with various scan speeds (1.2 ${\mu}m/s$, 3.0 ${\mu}m/s$ and 6.0 ${\mu}m/s$) and sliding cycles (100, 200 and 400) under normal load of 800 nN. The friction force and wear depth decreased with the increase of the scan speed. Plastically deformed thin layers were formed and sparsely deposited on the worn nonorod surface. The lower wear rate of the TONs with the longer oscillating cycles was attributed to the decreased real contact pressure due to the increase of real contact area between the colloidal probe and the TONs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.471-474
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• 2005

This study investigates the nano/microstructure, the aging response, and the mechanical/tribological properties of the eutectic regions in rheoformed A356 alloy-T5 parts using nano/micro-indentation and mechanical scratching, combined with optical microscopy and atomic force microscope (AFM). Most eutectic Si crystals in the A356 alloy showed a modified morphology as fine-fibers. The loading curve for the eutectic region was more irregular than that of the primary Al region due to the presence of various particles of varying strength. The aging responses of the eutectic regions in the rheoformed A356 alloys aged at $150^{\circ}C$ for different times (0, 2, 4, 8, 10, 16, 24, 36, and 72 h) were investigated. Both Victors hardness $(H_v)$ and indentation $(H_{IT})$ test results showed a similar trend of aging curves, and the peak was obtained at the same aging time of 10 h. A remarkable size-dependence of the tests was found.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.07b
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• pp.951-954
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• 2004

본 논문에서는 DLC(Diamond-like Carbon) 박막과 기판 사이에 금속층을 포함하는 DLC 박막의 기계적 특성을 분석하였다. 금속층은 sputtering법을 사용하고, DLC 박막은 PECVD법을 사용하여 각각 중착하였다. 티타늄(Ti), 니켄(Ni), 크롬(Cr)을 각 중간 금속층으로 사용한 후 DLC 박막과 실리콘(Si) 기판 간의 기계적 특성을 분석하였다. 각 막의 두께는 FE-SEM으로 확인하였고, DLC 박막의 구조 평가는 Raman spectrometer를 사용하여 분석하였으며, 각 금속층과 DLC 박막의 표면 상태는 AFM을 이용하여 확인하였다. XRD 분석을 통하여 박막의 격자분석을 하였고, SIMS(secondary ion mass spectrometry) 분석을 통하여 DLC 박막의 depth Profile을 확인하였다.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2019

We investigated the application of tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) coatings to fabricate a glass lens manufactured using a glass molding process (GMP). In this work, ta-C coatings with different thickness (50, 100, 150 and 200 nm) were deposited on a tungsten carbide (WC-Co) mold using the X-bend filter of a filtered cathode vacuum arc. The effects of thickness on mechanical and tribological properties of the coating were studied. These ta-C coatings were characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, nano-indentation measurements, Raman spectrometry, Rockwell-C tests, scratch tests and ball on disc tribometer tests. The nano-indentation measurements showed that hardness increased with an increase in coating thickness. In addition, the G-peak position in the Raman spectra analysis was right shifted from 1520 to $1586cm^{-1}$, indicating that the $sp^3$ content increased with increasing thickness of ta-C coatings. The scratch test showed that, compared to other coatings, the 100-nm-thick ta-C coating displayed excellent adhesion strength without delamination. The friction test was carried out in a nitrogen environment using a ball-on-disk tribometer. The 100-nm-thick ta-C coating showed a low friction coefficient of 0.078. When this coating was applied to a GMP, the life time, i.e., shot counts, dramatically increased up to 2,500 counts, in comparison with Ir-Re coating.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.261-266
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• 2022

Notably, laser surface patterning facilitates tribological applications under lubricated sliding contacts. Consequently, a special pattern that can reduce the coefficient of friction under contact is considered necessary for improved machine efficiency. However, inappropriate pattern designs produce higher friction coefficients and cannot reduce friction. In this study, we use cast iron pins as specimens to investigate their friction and wear characteristics. Moreover, we experimentally investigate the correlation between the friction reduction effect and the design of groove crosshatch patterns fabricated with various angles and widths. We conduct a friction test using a pin-on-disc type tribometer under grease lubrication to study the friction reduction effect of the specimens, and we observe that the average coefficient of friction changes with the crosshatch angle and width. The experiment reveals that grooved crosshatch specimens with a crosshatch angle of 135°maximize friction reduction. The coefficient of friction of the groove specimens with a width of 120 ㎛ is lower than that of the specimens with a width of 200?. The friction reduction effect of the width of the groove is attributed to the density of the groove pattern. Thus, grooved crosshatch patterns can be designed to maximize friction reduction, and the friction property of a grooved crosshatch pattern is found to be related to its width and angle.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2023

In this study, we investigate the tribological behavior of AISI 304 stainless steel pairs under deionized water and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) water dispersion lubrication. The specimen friction and wear properties are evaluated using a reciprocating ball-on-flat tribometer. The coefficient of friction remains nearly constant throughout the test under both lubricant conditions. The wear depth of the specimens under h-BN lubrication is smaller than that under deionized water lubrication, indicating the inhibition behavior of h-BN nanolubricants on direct metal-metal contacts. Optical micrographs and stylus profilometer measurements are performed to evaluate the severity of damage caused by the sliding motion and to determine the wear morphology of the specimens, respectively. The results show that h-BN nanolubricants does not have a significant effect on the friction behavior but demonstrates reduced wear owing to their trapping effect between the sliding interfaces. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy images of the specimens were acquired to confirm the trapping effect of h-BN between the sliding interfaces. The results also suggest that the trapped lubricants can distribute the contact pressure, reducing the wear damage caused by the metal-metal contact at the interface. In conclusion, h-BN nanolubricants have potential as an anti-wear additive for lubrication applications. Further investigation is needed to provide direct evidence of the trapping effect of h-BN nanoparticles between the sliding interfaces. These findings could lead to the development of more efficient and effective lubricants for various industrial applications.

• 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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.559-566
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• 2014

Plasma coatings have been conducted to improve the mechanical properties of thermal resistance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and thermal shock with respect to Great-Bar which is used as a carrier device for ironstone sintering under $700^{\circ}C$. The surface coatings on the upper side of the Great-Bar exposed on extreme environments of high temperature, severe wear, corrosion and thermal shock extended the life time due to the barrier coating layer. $Al_2O_3$, $Cr_2O_3$, WC coatings were applied to Great-Bar and their mechanical and chemical properties are analyzed by several experimental tests such as thermal resistance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance and thermal shock resistance. It shows excellent advantages with respect to wear, thermal shock and corrosion.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.213-217
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• 2015

Recently, household electronic industries require environmentally-friendly and highly functional steels in order to enhance the quality of human life. Customers especially require both excellent corrosion and abrasion resistant anti-fingerprint steels for digital TV panels. Thus POSCO has developed new functional electro-galvanized steels, which have double coated layers with organic-inorganic composites on the zinc surface of the steel for usage as the bottom chassis panel of TVs. The inorganic solution for the bottom layer consists of inorganic phosphate, magnesium, and zirconium compounds with a small amount of epoxy binder, and affords both improved adhesion properties by chemical conversion reactions and corrosion resistance due to a self-healing effect. The composite solution for the top layer was prepared by fine dispersion of organic-inorganic ingredients that consist of a urethane modified polyacrylate polymer, hardener, silica sol and a titanium complex inhibitor in aqueous media. Both composite solutions were coated on the steel surface by using a roll coater and then cured through an induction furnace in the electro-galvanizing line. New anti-fingerprint steel was evaluated for quality performance through such procedures as the salt spray test for corrosion resistance, tribological test for abrasion resistance, and conductivity test for surface electric conductance regarding to both types of polymer resin and coating weight of composite solution. New composite coated anti-fingerprint steels afford both better corrosion resistance and abrasion properties compared to conventional anti-fingerprint steel that mainly consists of acrylate polymers. Detailed discussions of both composite solutions and experimental results suggest that urethane modifications of acrylate polymers of composite solutions play a key role in enhanced quality performances.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.286-293
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• 2019

In friction and wear tests that use friction force microscopy (FFM), the wear debris transfer to the tip apex that changes tip radius is a crucial issue that influences the friction and wear performances of films and coatings with nanoscale thicknesses. In this study, FFM tests are performed for bilayer $MoS_2$ film to obtain a better understanding of how geometrical and chemical changes of tip apex influence the friction and wear properties of nanoscale molecular layers. The critical load can be estimated from the test results based on the clear distinction of the failure area. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy are employed to measure and observe the geometrical and chemical changes of the tip apex. Under normal loads lower than 1000 nN, the reuse of tips enhances the friction and wear performance at the tip-sample interface as the contact pair changes with the increase of tip radius. Therefore, the reduction of contact pressure due to the increase of tip radius by the transfer of $MoS_2$ or Mo-dominant wear debris and the change of contact pairs from diamond/$MoS_2$ to partial $MoS_2$ or Mo/$MoS_2$ can explain the critical load increase that results from tip reuse. We suggest that the wear debris transfer to the tip apex should be considered when used tips are repeatedly employed to identify the tribological properties of ultra-thin films using FFM.