Wear compatibility of super-hard WB4-B tribo-pair materials in moist environments

Abstract

A few super wear-resistant materials can maintain stable performance in moist environment where WB₄-B material as a new superhard material shows a potential for wear resistance. We investigated the wear compatibility of super-hard WB₄-B material coupling with steel, Si₃N₄, Al₂O₃, and SiC materials, suggesting that WB₄-B material against with SiC ceramic exhibits the super wear-resistant and self-lubricating properties with a wear rate to 2.31 × 10⁻⁸ mm³N⁻¹m⁻¹ and a friction coefficient to 0.1. The ultra-low wear mechanism is that the combined lubrication film of H₃BO₃/WO₃·H₂O/SiO₂·H₂O synergizes with the superhard properties of WB₄-B. These findings provide a reference to the design and development of super wear-resistant materials.