Effect of ion irradiation on tribological properties of composite coatings

Abstract

The paper discusses the results of the research in the effect of ion irradiation on tribological properties of multiphase ion-plasma coatings. It is shown that all the investigated coatings behave differently under ion irradiation: the Zn-Al, Fe-Al, Zn-Cu-Al coating is radiation-resistant and the friction coefficient does not virtually change; the Cr-Mn-Si-Cu-Fe-Al coating exhibits twofold increase in the friction coefficient, and that for Mn-Fe-Cu-Al coating decreases threefold. These changes are related to changes which occur in the coating surface under ion bombardment.