Wear characteristics and sustainability of WS₂ solid lubricant deposited layer on Al 6061-T6 substrate under the dry sliding conditions

ABSTRACT

This research investigates the tribological characteristics and sustainability of WS₂ deposited Al 6061-T6 surface under dry sliding conditions and optimizes the wear parameters to enhance the tribological behaviour and discuss its sustainability. The experiment used the Box–Behnken design, which examines the effective interaction between dry sliding parameters and specific wear rate (SWR) and friction coefficient (COF). By varying the load (L), sliding velocity (V) and distance (D), the wear behaviour of WS₂ deposition against EN 31 steel was examined through the pin-on-disc experiment. Grooving, debris formation, polishing, tribolayer, ploughing, transfer material, smearing, delamination and pitting are observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. For optimum conditions, SEM with energy dispersive spectroscopy was utilized to characterize the worn surface, and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the phases of W, WO₃, WS₂, Al, AlO, Al₂S₃ and Al₄C₃.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Aluminium 6061-T6
• WS₂ deposition
• Sustainability
• Dry sliding wear
• Wear characteristics
• COF
• SWR
• Worn surface morphology

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Shanmugha Precision Forging, Thanjavur, for providing the EDM facility. The authors thank the management of SASTRA Deemed to be University for allowing us to carry out the research work. The author (R. Rajeshshyam) is grateful to the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, for giving the infrastructure facility.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).