Effects of solid lubricant and laser surface texturing on frictional performance of pulse electric current sintered Al2O3–ZrO2 composites
Abstract Low-friction Al 2 O 3 –ZrO 2 composites were fabricated using a pulse electric current sintering (PECS) technique. Solid lubricants and/or laser surface texturing (LST) were applied to improve the low friction of the PECSed Al 2 O 3 –ZrO 2 composites under the lubricated condition (5W30). The hydrophobic surfaces of the as-polished PECSed composites were observed (except for the composites containing WS 2 ). After LST processing, all PECSed composites exhibited a hydrophobic surface ( θ =~93.9–101.1°), and the coefficient of friction of the PECSed Al 2 O 3 –ZrO 2 composites under a lubricated condition (5W30, commercial engine oil) was in the range from 0.050 to 0.060 before LST and from 0.045 to 0.065 after LST. This variation in the coefficient of friction of the PECSed composites is dependent on the flow of the lubricating oil, as confirmed by the surface morphology during the sliding tests.