Wear analysis of the composite coating in a long sliding time by dissipated energy approach

Abstract A wear test of Ti ₂ Ni/TiNi-based coating reinforced by TiC/TiB against a YG6X [94 wt.% tungsten carbide (WC) and 6 wt.% cobalt (Co)] ball in a sliding time of 712 h was carried out using a ball-on-disc reciprocating motion mode. The relationship between accumulated dissipated energy (∑ E ) and accumulated wear volume (∑ V ) was accurately established via the dissipated energy approach. Three wear stages were found: initial wear stage (0–200 min), breaking-in wear stage (200–14,520 min), and steady wear stage (14,520–42,720 min). At the initial wear stage, the relationship between ∑ E and ∑ V satisfied the equation ∑ V =42.5288∑ E +0.019. The curvilinear relationship in the other two stages was fitted into the equation ∑ V =-0.0029∑ E ⁴ +0.064∑ E 3-0.5353∑ E ² +2.0653∑ E +0.9938. The wear mechanism in the entire wear process was revealed. ∑ E at the initial wear stage was mainly used for debris formation. At the breaking-in wear stage, ∑ E was dissipated by generating the friction heat, which led to the formation of a protective layer. At the steady wear stage, ∑ E was used to generate friction heat as well as to damage and restore the protective layer. The detection results of the protective layer via energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that this layer was composed of oxides and WC debris.