Tribotechnical Properties of Cu–Al Antifriction Gas Thermal Coatings in Liquid and Grease Lubricants

The study of the structural-phase state and tribotechnical properties of antifriction gas-thermal coatings made of aluminum alloy AlSi12, welding bronze CuSi3Mn1, as well as composite material CuSi3Mn1 + AlSi12 and a coating of bronze CuSn10P1 obtained by centrifugal induction surfacing was carried out. It is shown that composite gas-thermal coatings from CuSi3Mn1 + AlSi12 after spraying include Cu, Al, Cu₉Al₄, CuAl₂, Cu₃Al, Si, and Al₂O₃ phases. The matrix phase of the bronze interlayers is doped with aluminum, while the Al interlayers are doped with copper. It has been established that annealing of coatings CuSi3Mn1 + AlSi12 at temperatures of 175 and 225°С for 2 h leads to the release of an additional amount of intermetallic compounds in them and an increase in their microhardness. It is shown that composite gas-thermal coatings have ≈1.2–1.7 times higher wear resistance in the environment of I-20A and Litol-24 lubricants compared to coatings of CuSn10P1 bronze. Annealing of composite coatings from CuSi3Mn1 + AlSi12 leads to an increase in their wear resistance in the environment of I-20A liquid lubricant up to 30% and Litol-24 up to 20% compared to the initial state. The coefficients of friction of all antifriction coatings based on copper in the environment of the I-20A lubricant did not exceed 0.08, and in the environment of the Litol-24 lubricant, 0.10.