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
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).