Optimizing the Tribological Behavior of Nanocrystalline Inconel 718 by Solid Lubricant Reinforcements

IF 3.5 3区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Tribology Letters Pub Date : 2026-09-04 DOI:10.1007/s11249-026-02198-x

Manoel Kasalo, U. Pranav Nayak, Timothy MacLucas, Sebastian Suarez, Andrea Bachmaier

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Abstract

Bulk metal matrix composites of nanocrystalline Inconel 718 (IN718) reinforced with various solid lubricant (SL) particles were fabricated from powder blends using a combination of colloidal mixing and high-pressure torsion (HPT). Conventional (MoS₂, WS₂, graphite) and modern SL (graphene nanoplatelets and functionalized carbon nanotubes) were incorporated at varying concentrations. Tribological performance was investigated under ambient conditions with a focus on running-in behavior. Linear reciprocating ball-on-disc tests were conducted against spherical Si₃N₄ and 100Cr6 counterbodies, with wear characterized by confocal laser microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, including qualitative chemical analysis. The friction evolution of HPT-deformed IN718 exhibited strain-dependent behavior, as evidenced by microhardness measurements. Conventional SL and graphene provided predominantly limited improvements in friction and wear. Only carbon nanotube reinforcements consistently improved tribological performance across all concentrations and counterbody materials. Best results were achieved at a content of 5 wt%, exhibiting stable self-lubricating behavior, thereby reducing the friction coefficient from 0.78 to 0.14 and the specific wear rate by an order of magnitude to ~ 10^–9 mm³ N⁻¹ mm⁻¹. These findings highlight the potential of carbon nanotube-reinforced IN718 composites for more sustainable tribological applications under ambient conditions.

Graphical abstract

查看原文本刊更多论文

固体润滑剂增强剂优化纳米晶Inconel 718的摩擦学性能。

采用胶体混合和高压扭转（HPT）相结合的方法，制备了纳米晶铬镍铁合金718 （IN718）块体金属基复合材料，并添加了各种固体润滑剂（SL）颗粒。传统的（MoS2, WS2，石墨）和现代的SL（石墨烯纳米片和功能化碳纳米管）以不同的浓度掺入。研究了环境条件下的摩擦学性能，重点研究了磨合行为。对球形Si3N4和100Cr6对位体进行了直线往复球盘试验，用共聚焦激光显微镜和扫描电镜对磨损进行了表征，并进行了定性化学分析。显微硬度测试表明，hpt变形IN718的摩擦演化表现出应变依赖行为。传统的SL和石墨烯在摩擦和磨损方面的改善非常有限。只有碳纳米管增强材料在所有浓度和反体材料中都能持续改善摩擦学性能。在5 wt%的含量下达到最佳效果，表现出稳定的自润滑行为，从而将摩擦系数从0.78降低到0.14，比磨损率降低到~ 10-9 mm3 N-1 mm-1。这些发现突出了碳纳米管增强IN718复合材料在环境条件下更可持续的摩擦学应用的潜力。图片摘要：补充信息：在线版本包含补充材料，可在https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-026-02198-x上获得。

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来源期刊

Tribology Letters 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

9.40%

发文量

116

审稿时长

2.5 months

期刊介绍： Tribology Letters is devoted to the development of the science of tribology and its applications, particularly focusing on publishing high-quality papers at the forefront of tribological science and that address the fundamentals of friction, lubrication, wear, or adhesion. The journal facilitates communication and exchange of seminal ideas among thousands of practitioners who are engaged worldwide in the pursuit of tribology-based science and technology.