Title: Nanotribology on individual phases of duplex steel: combining roughness, material effects, and friction

Authors: Satish Achanta; Jean-Pierre Celis; Pierre Ponthiaux; Dirk Drees

Addresses: Falex Tribology NV, Wingepark 23B, 3110 Rotselaar, Belgium; Department MTM, K.U. Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium. ' Department MTM, K.U. Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 44, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium. ' LGPM, Ecole Centrale Paris, Grande Voie des Vignes, 92295 Chatenay-Malabry Cedex, France. ' Falex Tribology NV, Wingepark 23B, 3110 Rotselaar, Belgium

Abstract: In this study, lateral force microscopy (LFM) technique was used to investigate local friction and wear behaviour on individual phases of dual phase steel. Important factors influencing friction interpretation at nanoscale are investigated. A nanoprobe made of silicon nitride (20 nm tip radius) was used for this investigation. The difference in phases is clearly apparent when the surface is smooth but with a slight increase in surface roughness, the frictional difference between the phases got masked. A clear direct dependence of friction force on normal force was observed at nanoscale as predicted by Derjaguin|s friction model. This model appeared to be valid irrespective of the surface roughness modifications on different phases of the material. The tip wear phenomenon was detected through adhesion force measurements before and after the test. Even at nanoscales, the wear resistance was found to be directly dependent on the hardness of the phases.

Keywords: dual phase steel; lateral force microscopy; LFM; nanotribology; surface roughness; Derjaguin model; friction modelling; wear behaviour; nanotechnology; nanoprobes; silicon nitride; tip wear.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2011.044392

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2011 Vol.5 No.5/6, pp.331 - 347

Received: 28 Apr 2011
Accepted: 11 Aug 2011
Published online: 14 Oct 2014 *

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