Understanding the lubrication regime phenomenon and its influence on tribological characteristics of additively manufactured 316 Steel under novel lubrication environment

The degree of surface separation is generally used to determine the lubrication regimes. The smooth functioning of components are possible by providing the lubrication at intermediate zone, which reduces the wear and prevents severe stresses or bearing arrests. This work is also focus on lubrication regime phenomena and its influence on tribological characteristics of additively manufactured 316 steel under novel lubrication environment. The tribology tests were performed on ball-on flat machine under dry, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL), cryogenic and hybrid cryo+MQL conditions. The 100Cr6 ball has been used against additively manufactured 316 steel and the theoretical exploration of lubrication regimes has been discussed along with other tribological characteristics such as wear rate, surface roughness and coefficient of friction etc. The outcome demonstrated that the hybrid cryo+MQL is helpful in providing the good lubrication film and consequently improves the tribological properties.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the lubrication regime phenomena and its influence on the tribological characteristics of additively manufactured 316 steel under a novel lubrication environment. The results show that the hybrid cryo+MQL condition can provide a good lubrication film, leading to improved tribological properties.