Friction and wear properties of textured surface for bearing steel with mango-shaped micro geometries

Purpose Given the current friction and wear challenges faced by automobile parts and bearings, this study aims to identify a novel texture for creating anti-friction and wear-resistant surfaces. This includes detailing the preparation process with the objective of mitigating friction and wear in working conditions. Design/methodology/approach Femtosecond laser technology was used to create a mango-shaped texture on the surface of GCr15 bearing steel. The optimized processing technology of the texture surface was obtained through adjusting the laser scanning speed. The tribological behavior of the laser-textured surface was investigated using a reciprocating tribometer. Findings The friction coefficient of the mango-shaped texture surface is 25% lower than that of the conventional surface, this can be attributed to the reduced contact area between the friction ball and the micro-textured surface, leading to stress concentration at the extrusion edge and a larger stress distribution area on the contact part of the ball and disk compared to the conventional surface and the function of the micro-texture in storing wear chips during the sliding process, thereby reducing secondary wear. Originality/value The mango-shaped textured surface in this study demonstrates effective solutions for some of the friction and wear issues, offering significant benefits for equipment operation under light load conditions. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2024-0127/