Evaluation of Tribological and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Steel with Fluoroligomeric Film at Piezoelectric Actuator Contact

Abstract

The tribological investigations of carbon steel surfaces modified with fluoroligomeric materials were performed. Compared with the uncoated steel, the fluoroligomeric coated surface showed higher plasticity of the modified surface in the scratch tests where the fluoroligomeric film was not destroyed by higher loading. This could be explained by the lower micro hardness of the steel after processing by fluoroligomer and the influence of the adsorbic Rebinder effect. This study includes original results of the loading influence on the efficiency of the piezoelectric actuator and the wear value of the frictional element, which is important explaining the greater longevity of the piezoelectric actuator. Fluoroligomer treatment of the surface considerably improved the performance of the piezoelectric actuator. Using the reference steel roller in the piezoelectric actuator under minimum loads was characterized by a decrease in rotor speed with increasing the pressing of the frictional element. When the rotor was coated by fluoroligomer, the speed remained stable when increasing the pressing force. Using the reference steel roller, the rotation after short-term overloads was not restored, and rollers with fluoroligomeric surface started to rotate soon as the short-term overload was removed. The higher efficiency of piezoelectric actuators with a fluoroligomeric layer on the roller is related to almost two times lower wear of a friction element operating with coated rollers as compared to reference rollers.