A novel co-extrusion process for the production of coaxially reinforced hollow profiles has been developed. Using this process, hybrid hollow profiles made of the aluminum alloy EN AW-6082 and the case-hardening steel 20MnCr5 (AISI 5120) were produced, which can be forged into hybrid bearing bushings by subsequent die forging. For the purpose of co-extrusion, a modular tooling concept was developed where steel tubes made of 20MnCr5 are fed laterally into the tool. This LACE (lateral angular co-extrusion) process allows for a variation of the volume fraction of the reinforcement by using steel tubes with different wall thicknesses, which enabled the production of compound profiles having reinforcement contents of either 14 vol.% or 34 vol.%. The shear strength of the bonding area of these samples was determined in push-out tests. Additionally, mechanical testing of segments of the hybrid profiles using shear compression tests was employed to provide information about the influence of different bonding mechanisms on the strength of the composite zone.

The use of lightweight materials is one possibility to limit the weight of vehicles and to reduce CO2 emissions. However, the mechanical properties and weight-saving potential of mono-materials are limited. Material compounds can overcome this challenge by combining the advantages of different materials in one component. Lateral angular co-extrusion (LACE) allows the production of coaxial semi-finished products consisting of aluminum and steel. In this study, a finite element model of the LACE process was built up and validated by experimental investigations. A high degree of agreement between the calculated and experimentally determined forces, temperatures, and the geometrical shape of the hybrid profiles was achieved. In order to determine suitable parameters for further extrusion experiments, the influence of different process parameters on material flow and extrusion force was investigated in a numerical parametric study. Both the temperature and extrusion ratio showed a significant influence on the occurring maximum extrusion force as well as the material flow inside the LACE tool. The maximum force of 2.5 MN of the employed extrusion press was not exceeded. An uneven material flow was observed in the welding chamber, leading to an asymmetric position of the steel rod in the aluminum matrix.

As a result of global economic and environmental change, the demand for innovative, environmentally-friendly technologies is increasing. Employing solid lubricants in rolling contacts can reduce the use of environmentally harmful greases and oils. The aim of the current research was the development of a solid lubricant system with regenerative properties. The layer system consisted of a molybdenum (Mo) reservoir and a top layer of molybdenum trioxide (MoO3). After surface wear, Mo is supposed to react with atmospheric oxygen and form a new oxide. The determination of the wear volume of thin layers cannot be measured microscopically, which is why the wear behavior is initially determined on the nano level. In this work, single Mo and MoO3 coatings prepared by physical vapor deposition (PVD) are characterized by nano testing. The main objective was to determine the wear volume of the single coatings using a newly developed method considering the initial topology. For this purpose, nano-wear tests with different wear paths and normal forces were carried out and measured by in situ scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Based on the characteristic values determined, the coefficient of wear was determined for wear modeling according to Sarkar. The validation of the wear model developed was carried out by further wear tests on the respective mono layers.

The current study presents a novel Tailored Forming process chain developed for the production of hybrid bearing bushings. In a first step, semi-finished products in the form of locally reinforced hollow profiles were produced using a new co-extrusion process. For this purpose, a modular tool concept was developed in which a steel tube made of a case-hardening steel, either C15 (AISI 1015) or 20MnCr5 (AISI 5120), is fed laterally into the tool. Inside the welding chamber, the steel tube is joined with the extruded aluminum alloy EN AW-6082. In the second step, sections from the compound profiles were formed into hybrid bearing bushings by die forging. In order to set the required forming temperatures for each material—aluminum and steel—simultaneously, a tailored heating strategy was developed, which enabled successful die forging of the hybrid workpiece to the desired bearing bushing geometry. Using either of the case-hardening steels in combination with aluminum, this novel process chain made it possible to produce intact hybrid bearing bushings, which showed both macroscopically and microscopically intimate material contact inside the compound zone.

Energy losses and friction locking are decisive factors in the conceptual design and sustainable realization of machine elements. Thus, the improvement of the tribological properties of rolling bearings by ceramic coatings on bearing surfaces represents a promising approach. These coatings are to be optimally adapted to the load case by minimizing the slip and resulting wear by rolling elements. For this purpose, molybdenum-based coatings were applied by means of magnetron sputtering in a vacuum atmosphere at controlled and adjusted oxygen partial pressure on 100Cr6 axial bearing washers. The effect of diffusing oxygen at near surface areas can be achieved during the physical vapor deposition (PVD) process itself as well as under adequate loading cases, so that a regenerative separation layer prevents high tribological wear at running surfaces. The generated layers were then characterized by high-resolution analysis with regard to morphology, attachment to the substrate and stoichiometry. The adjusted process parameters yielded pure molybdenum, as well as molybdenum oxide, dioxide and trioxide as a function of corresponding oxygen partial pressure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for topographical evaluation, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the characterization of stoichiometry and focussed ion beam cutting (FIB) for coating thickness determination. From selected surfaces, additional energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) mappings were performed to quantify local oxygen contents at the border area of generated molybdenum layers. To record tribological characteristics, the layers were analyzed for their mechanical properties subsequently. Therefore, nanoindentational studies were carried out, which could provide information on the wear behavior in point contact in the form of nanoclay experiments. The results showed lower coefficients of friction for oxidized surfaces and thus a better resistance against sliding wear than uncoated specimen surfaces.

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Dry lubricated bearings are used in applications that are exposed to high temperatures or other ambient conditions that prohibit the use of lubricants. Examples can be found in the chemical or food industries. To handle such conditions, a molybdenum based layer system was developed for the dry lubrication of rolling contacts. The molybdenum oxide layers are generated by Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). By using a magnetron sputter cathode, it is possible to produce a PVD molybdenum oxide multiple layer system. In the preinvestigation phase, various parameters (power, sputtering time, oxygen mass flow, etc.) were used for the preparation in order to achieve optimum adhesion and material strength. In the current project phase, the coatings were qualified by applying microtribological methods. In a first step of qualification, the nano hardness and Young's modulus were investigated via nanoindentation. Additional nano scratch tests allow conclusions regarding the friction and elastic properties of the coatings. In the second step of qualification, the coatings were qualified by micro wear and scratch tests by applying a milli-tribometer. The setup allows the measurement of the frictional properties of a 100Cr6 (AISI 52100) ball against a coated counterpart under oscillating motion. Scratch tests were performed by applying a Rockwell diamond tip with a radius of 5 µm with forces of up to 1 N and scratch lengths of up to 20 mm. The properties of the coatings regarding the transition from nano to micro scale are observed and taken into account for the layer development. With these results it is possible to characterize the generated layers and to define the wear and the optimal parameters for the PVD process. After qualification the coatings will be applied to radial bearing surfaces. The intended use of dry lubricant coating systems on rolling bearings will be presented.