Verbesserte Tribokorrosionsbeständigkeit des martensitischen Stahls X54CrMoVN17-1 durch die Erzeugung von expanded martensite

Seal-free, media-lubricated rolling bearings have a high-energy efficiency as the absence of the seal minimizes frictional loss and increases the efficiency of the driven machine. In addition, the environment is protected by the absence of hazardous lubricants. However, media-lubrication increases tribocorrosive attack on the bearing surface. Therefore, the tribocorrosion resistance of the bearing surface can be increased by a thermal surface treatment called low-temperature plasma nitriding. The produced “expanded martensite” in martensitic steels features a high hardness with comparatively good corrosion resistance. Tribocorrosion tests in 0.9 % NaCl-solution show that the material loss could be reduced by 70 % due to expanded martensite compared to the initial state of the steel.