Effect of size refinement and distribution of lubricants on friction coefficient of high temperature self-lubricating composites

Abstract IS304 high temperature self-lubricating composites were prepared by ball milling and induction sintering with embedded BaF2/CaF2 and Ag particles as lubricants. In comparison to PM304 composites with the same composition, the friction coefficient of IS304 is slight lower than that of PM304 in the temperature range from 20 to 250 °C. However, the friction coefficient of IS304 dramatically decreases at 260–280 °C while the friction coefficient of PM304 dramatically decreases at 330–350 °C under the same test condition. The improved friction coefficient of IS304 composites in the temperature range from 260 to 340 °C is due to the formation of self-lubricating fluoride films. The existence of fluoride film on the worn surface of IS304 is attributed to the refinement of lubricants from 30–70 μm to less than 2 μm and the appropriate distribution of fluorides, which can lead to a higher temperature rise (flash temperature) at the instantaneous contacting surface in comparison to that of the PM304 under the same test condition. It is this considerably higher superficial temperature rise at the contacting surface that can effectively activate the self-lubrication property of the fluoride phase and subsequently induce the formation the lubricating film.