An apparatus for sequential pulsed plasma beam treatment in combination with Arc PVD deposition

A hybrid type of apparatus is described which enables one to form a thin multi-layer film on the surface of any kind of solid substrate. In one process, the surface is treated with a high intensity pulse plasma beam which introduces the chosen kind of atoms into the near-surface layer of the substrate. In the second process, following the first without breaking the vacuum, the coating is formed by arc PVD (physical vapour deposition) process. Two examples of coatings formed on metallic and ceramic substrates are presented

Badania powierzchniowej trwałości zmęczeniowej skojarzeń z nanowarstwami

The article presents results obtained in studies of surface fatigue life conducted using a specially developed unique method in a model system with a cone and three balls. The studies involved pairs in which the cones were made of 100Cr6 and SW7M steel (hardened) as well as 17HMN steel, which were subjected to low-pressure carburizing with pre-nitriding (PreNitLPC®) technology. The results obtained for the pairs were used as a point of reference for pairs in which the test elements were coated with a-C:H:W (WC/C) and additionally, in the case of 17HNM steel, with Si-DLC (DLC SiliComp). The temperature of the coating process did not exceed 200°C in all cases, and the coating thickness was in the range of 1.5-20 µm. The studies were conducted in the presence of pure synthetic oil PAO8. Based on the studies, it was concluded that thin PVD coatings applied to heavily loaded steel elements of rolling friction joints variously affected the surface fatigue life of the steel coated with them. The observations cannot be unambiguously accounted for by any technological rules, and there is no available physical explanation for their underlying causes.W artykule zaprezentowano wyniki badań powierzchniowej trwałości zmęczeniowej własną, unikatową metodą, w modelowym układzie stożek trzy kulki. Przeprowadzono badania skojarzeń, w których stożki wykonane były ze stali 100Cr6 i SW7M hartowanej oraz stali 17HMN, które poddano technologii nawęglania niskociśnieniowego wspomaganego azotowaniem PreNitLPC".Wyniki tych skojarzeń były bazą odniesienia dla skojarzeń, w których elementy testowe pokryte były powłoką a-C:H:W (WC/C) i dodatkowo w przypadku stali 17HNM powłoką Si-DLC (DLC SiliComp). Temperatura procesu nanoszenia powłok we wszystkich przypadkach nie przekraczała 200°C, natomiast ich grubość zawarta była w przedziale 1,5+2,0 µm. Badania przeprowadzono w obecności czystego oleju syntetycznego PAO8. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że cienkie powłoki PVD nanoszone na wysokoobciążone stalowe elementy tocznych węzłów tarcia w zróżnicowany sposób wpływają na powierzchniową trwałość zmęczeniową pokrytej nimi stali

Changes of stainless steels surface morphology as a result of interaction with intense pulsed plasma beams containing ions of rare earth elements

Among different methods used in surface engineering such as CVD, PVD, ion implantation etc., the techniques using high intensity ion or plasma beams are relatively new ones. The results reported thus far show that the treatment of steel surface with high intensity plasma pulses can lead to changes of its morphology and mechanical properties. Stainless steels have very good corrosion resistance, but they have low hardness and poor tribological properties. The intense pulsed plasma beams were used for modification of alloyed steels especially austenitic (1.4301 and 1.4401) and ferritic (1.4016) stainless steels with various content of alloying elements. Samples were irradiated with 2, 5 or 10 short (μs scale) intense (density of energy was about 5 J/cm2) pulses. Heating and cooling processes were of non-equilibrium type. In all samples the near surface layer of the thickness in μm range was melted and simultaneously doped with cerium and lanthanum. The aim of this work was to investigate the changes of stainless steel surface morphology after melting, rare earth elements (REE) addition and rapid solidification after interaction with intense pulsed plasma beams. The surface morphology was analyzed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. Changes of surface roughness were determined by profilometric measurements. The efficiency of REE addition process was also determined

The influence of hybrid coatings on the fatigue life steel

W artykule zaprezentowano wyniki badań powierzchniowej trwałości zmęczeniowej próbek wykonanych ze stali 17HMN, które poddano technologii nawęglania niskociśnieniowego wspomaganego azotowaniem PreNitLPC® oraz próbek nawęglonych z naniesionymi technologią PVD powłokami niskotarciowymi typu: a-C:H:W (WC/C) a-C:H (DLC Comp) oraz Si-DLC (DLC SiliComp). Temperatura procesu nanoszenia powłok we wszystkich przypadkach nie przekraczała 200°C. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że cienkie powłoki PVD, nanoszone na wysokoobciążone stalowe elementy węzłów tarcia, w zróżnicowany sposób wpływają na powierzchniową trwałość zmęczeniową pokrytej nimi stali. Aby wyjaśnić przyczyny tego zróżnicowania, konieczne są dogłębne badania analityczne.The paper presents the results of research on the surface fatigue life (i.e. the resistance to pitting) of samples made of 17HMN steel, low-pressure carburized and PreNitLPC® nitriding assisted, as well as carburized samples with low-friction PVD coatings deposited onto the surface – a-C:H:W (trademark: WC/C), a-C:H (DLC Comp), and Si-DLC (DLC SiliComp) coatings were deposited. The coating process temperature in all the cases did not exceed 200°C. The investigated tribosystems were lubricated with a synthetic oil without additives. On the basis of the research results, it can be stated that thin PVD coatings, deposited onto heavy-loaded steel tribosystems, significantly and in a differentiated way affect the surface fatigue life. It seems necessary, apart from the fatigue wear investigation, to conduct profound analytical examinations aimed at explaining such a strongly different behaviour of elements working in a lubricated non-conformal contact

The Possibility Of Use Of Laser-Modified Ti6Al4V Alloy In Friction Pairs In Endoprostheses

The purpose of this paper is to show results of laser treatment at cryogenic conditions of the Ti6Al4V alloy used for orthopedic applications. That modification process ought to bring beneficial changes of microstructure and residual stresses in the surface layer. The paper presents the abrasive wear of the base and laser remelted material in association with ceramics Al2O3. Despite the surface cracking after laser treatment the tribological properties in simulated body fluid have been substantially improved

Możliwość zastosowania modyfikowanego laserowo stopu Ti6Al4V na pary cierne endoprotez

The purpose of this paper is to show results of laser treatment at cryogenic conditions of the Ti6Al4V alloy used for orthopedic applications. That modification process ought to bring beneficial changes of microstructure and residual stresses in the surface layer. The paper presents the abrasive wear of the base and laser remelted material in association with ceramics Al2O3. Despite the surface cracking after laser treatment the tribological properties in simulated body fluid have been substantially improved.Celem artykułu jest pokazanie rezultatów obróbki laserowej w warunkach kriogenicznych stopu Ti6Al4V używanego w aplikacjach ortopedycznych. Tego rodzaju proces modyfikacji powinien przynieść korzystne zmiany w mikrostrukturze i naprężeniach własnych warstwy wierzchniej. Artykuł prezentuje badania odporności na zużycie ścierne materiału podstawowego i nadtopionego laserowo w skojarzeniu z ceramiką Al2O3. Pomimo pęknięć na powierzchni materiału po obróbce laserowej własności tribologiczne badane w roztworze symulującym płyn ustrojowy zostały znacznie ulepszone