The tribological characteristics of the surface coatings on rotary compressor vane in carbon dioxide environment

The carbon dioxide is investigated as an alternative refrigerant to replace HFC refrigerants in refrigerators and air conditioning systems due to the environmental concerns. Because new compressors with the carbon dioxide are going to be operated under the high pressure, the tribology of sliding surfaces in the compressor becomes very important. To develop new compressors, especially rotary type, the friction and wear characteristics of sliding surfaces between a vane and a roller in the rotary compressor were evaluated in this paper. Several hard coatings, such as TiN, CrN, WC/C and two types of nitridings, were applied on vane surfaces in order to improve the tribological characteristics, and their performances were evaluated experimentally. The vane-on-disk type sliding tests were carried out under the various sliding speeds, normal loads, and carbon dioxide pressures with an exclusive high pressure wear tester. From the tests wear volume of vane surfaces applied various coatings were compared. During the tests coefficients of friction and surface temperatures were monitored. Test results showed that WC/C coatings showed good tribological properties. TiN and CrN coated vanes showed good wear resistance properties but produced high friction.