A comparative study of the friction and wear behavior of untreated mild steel and its boron-permeated counterpart under lubrication of liquid paraffin containing zinc dialkyldithio-phosphate

AISI-1045 steel was treated with solid boron permeation, and the interaction between the modified surface layer and the lubricating additive zinc dialkyldithio-phosphate (ZDDP) was examined. The friction and wear behavior of the treated and untreated steel specimens were compared. The phase composition of the boron-permeated layer was examined by means of X-ray diffraction. The chemical states of several typical elements on the worn surfaces of the treated and untreated steel surfaces were examined by means of Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results showed that the wear-resistance of boron-permeated specimens was higher than that of the untreated ones. This was partly attributed to the change in the hardness and phase composition of the steel surfaces after boron permeation. Tribochemical reactions between steel and the active elements of the additive occurred during the sliding of the treated and untreated steel discs against an AISI-52100 steel ball using different lubricants. The resultant surface protective films containing various tribochemical products, together with the adsorbed boundary lubricating film, contributed to the reduction of friction and wear.