MOS2/WS2/FINELPN COMPOSITE LAYERS – A NEW APPROACH TO LOW FRICTIONAL COATINGS FOR PISTON RINGS

In the search for alternative processes of technologically difficult and environmentally dangerous galvanic chromium coatings on cast iron piston rings, composite coatings of low-friction nanoparticles MoS2, WS2 and/or rGO embedded in a hard matrix of iron nitrides have been investigated. Laboratory tribological and operational tests on a real aircraft engine have been carried out to select the optimal technological parameters and microstructures of low frictional layers. A dry friction coefficient of 0.13 has been obtained for the best of the processes, i.e., four times lower than for raw reference samples (0.55). According to that technological option, the low-friction layers were produced for a set of rings for three cylinders of a Boxer aircraft engine and tested comparatively in an operational test with the rings in the other three cylinders. The experimental engine has passed the operational test obtaining the assumed power performance, fuel consumption and admission criteria of exhaust purity and oil purity.