The friction and wear behavior of laser textured surfaces in non-conformal contact under starved lubrication

A series of dimple-textured surfaces with different geometrical parameters (area density, diameter and depth) were fabricated on the surface of middle carbon steel. And then the friction and wear tests were carried out to figure out the main factor that influences the friction and wear properties of the steel surface in non-conformal contact under starved lubricated condition. Furthermore, friction and wear behavior of the textured surfaces were analyzed in the process of wear aim to make a preliminary exploration of the wear-reducing mechanism of laser surface texturing. The results show that the depth of the dimple is the main factor that has a significant effect on the friction and wear properties. The best property was obtained for surfaces textured with a depth of 10 mu m, area density of 10% and diameter of 100 mu m. In addition, the friction coefficient has obvious characteristics in the different period of friction and wear. It can be divided into three stages which are defined as steady-state, variation-state and dry-friction, respectively. The surfaces textured optimum depths can effectively prolong the steady-state and reducing friction and wear in the variation-state that results in a longer sliding distance in the starved lubrication.