Tribofilm formation on cemented carbides in dry sliding conformal contact

The friction properties and the tribofilm formation of a binderless cemented carbide and two conventional cemented carbides have been evaluated in an unlubricated sliding contact in either air or nitrogen surroundings. A continuously varied normal load and two rotational speeds were used. The tribofilms were analysed with SEM, XPS, TEM and EELS.For all cemented carbides, friction was lower at higher sliding speed. The two conventional carbides …