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Variations in strain affect friction and microstructure evolution in copper under a reciprocating tribological load
Sarah Becker1,2, Katrin Schulz1,3, Dennis Scherhaufer4
1Institute for Applied Materials (IAM), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
Journal of Materials Research
|June 4, 2021
Summary
Controlling friction and wear in metallic contacts is complex. This study shows that altering membrane stiffness in copper surfaces influences strain distribution, reducing friction and microstructure changes for better tribological performance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Tribology
- Surface Engineering
Background:
- Material microstructure significantly impacts tribological performance in metallic contacts.
- Tailoring friction and wear is challenging due to complex microstructure evolution under tribological loading.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of strain distribution on friction and wear in metallic materials.
- To understand how surface texturing influences microstructure evolution and tribological behavior.
Main Methods:
- Micro-milling was used to create parallel rectangular surface textures (membranes) on high-purity copper plates.
- Varying membrane height controlled stiffness, leading to different elastic and plastic strains under reciprocating tribological loading against sapphire discs.
- Finite element simulations were employed to analyze strain distribution within the membranes.
Main Results:
- Maximum elastic strain increased as membrane stiffness decreased.
- The coefficient of friction decreased with an increasing membrane aspect ratio.
- Reduced membrane stiffness led to less change in microstructure and local crystallographic orientation.
Conclusions:
- Membrane stiffness is a critical factor in controlling strain distribution and tribological performance.
- Surface texturing with controlled stiffness can be used to tailor friction and minimize microstructure alteration.
- Findings provide insights into designing materials with enhanced wear resistance and predictable friction.
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