Friction and wear properties of titanium nitride coating in sliding contact with AISI 01 steel

Unlubricated friction and wear behaviors of TiN coating in contact with AISI 01 steel were investigated as a function of the reciprocating sliding cycle (sliding distance) using a block-on-ring wear test machine. The applied load was 109 kgf and the linear velocity was 0.07 m s-1. The microstructural and chemical characterization of wear surfaces and debris by scanning electron microscopy and energy- and wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectrometry are presented. The correlation between wear characteristics and microstructures of wear surfaces and debris is described. The mechanisms of the wear process at various stages are characterized.