Friction and wear behaviour of plasma sprayed Cr2O3-TiO2 coating

Cr2O3-25TiO(2) coating was deposited by atmospheric plasma spray (APS) coating technique. Effect of load (5-30 N) and sliding velocity (0.25, 0.75 m s(-1)) on friction coefficient and abrasive wear behaviour of the Cr2O3-25TiO(2) coating was studied. Mechanical and microstructural characterization of the Cr2O3-25TiO(2) coating was carried out. With an increase in sliding velocity, abrasive wear rate and friction coefficient (COF) decreased while wear rate and friction coefficient showed an increasing trend with the load. The worn out surfaces were analyzed by SEM, EDS and XRD. At lower sliding velocity, XRD analysis revealed peaks of Ti2O3, Ti3O5, CrO2 and CrO3. In addition, peak of Ti4O7 was also detected at higher sliding velocity and at 30 N load. At higher sliding velocity medium to severe tribo oxidation was observed. XPS analysis of worn surfaces at both the sliding velocities, showed surface film of oxides of titanium and chromium along with Cr(OH)(3). Magneli phase titanium oxides with sub stoichiometric composition, along with surface films of chromium oxides and hydroxides altered the friction and wear behaviour of the coating. The decrease in friction coefficient with an increase in sliding velocity was attributed to tribo oxides and tribochemical reaction films having lower shear strength with good lubricating properties. The mechanism of material removal involved plastic deformation at lower load whereas inter-granular and trans-granular fracture, delamination cracking and splat fracture was observed with an increase load from 10 N to 30 N.