The Influence of Finishing on the Tribological Properties of Plasma Sprayed MMC Coatings

Abstract

During operation of marine pumps, one of the most common disability is tribological wear of shaft neck cooperating with the gland. In the practice, worn shafts are exchanged for new or are regenerated by chromium plating, padding or thermally sprayed of ceramic coatings, mainly Al2O3 In this article, the use of plasma sprayed Ni-5% Al-15%Al2O3 composite coatings were proposed. The surfaces of coatings by turning and burnishing treatments were shaped. Tribological properties of composite materials are dependent on the proportion and size of the reinforcing phase particles contained in a metal matrix. A reinforcement composite with very small dimensions and the amounts may result in increased wear and increase the coefficient of friction. It is therefore important to check whether the advisable of phase composition will not adversely affect the wear of the composite and the cooperating the part. The presence of a 15% volume fraction of the alumina particles on the selected tribological properties of the Ni-5% Al matrix composite coatings were evaluated. In order to assess the effect of the applied tapes of finishing on wear of MMC coatings, the tribological tests were performed on the "T05" machine with head roll-piece type. It has been found that the burnishing favours a lower wear of composite coating and the cooperating element compared to the coatings after turning treatments. At the same time observed more than ten times less wear intensity of MMC coatings in the initial time of friction, which may indicate a shorter time needed to grind of cooperating elements.