Microstructure and properties of chessboard-textured (CFx)n/CaF2/C-ZrO2/TiO2 lubricant-hard composite coatings fabricated by electrospray mask in-situ formation

To further enhance the lubrication performance of composite coatings, this study employed an electrospray masking in-situ forming technology to fabricate textured (CFx)(n)/CaF2/C-ZrO2/TiO2 composite coatings. Their microstructures, mechanical properties, and reciprocating wear behaviors were investigated. Results showed that this technique could directly create high-quality chessboard microtextures during coating fabrication, integrating multiple materials on a single surface. Compared to non-textured LT samples, the CBM samples demonstrated enhanced coating-substrate adhesion strength (132 N, increased by 11 %), low friction coefficient (similar to 0.09, reduced by 18.2 %) and wear rate (similar to 1.86 x 10(-7) mm(3)center dot N-1 center dot mm(-1), reduced by 42.4 %) at 25 degrees C, and excellent self-lubricating performance across 200-600 degrees C. Mechanism analysis revealed that the chessboard structure exhibited a synergistic effect with the coating materials.