Abstract: Using a Q switched light-pumped Nd: YAG laser, die steel were processed to obtain surfaces with different sizes and distribution of micro-convex. The friction and wear of die steel samples of different surface textures by laser texturing as well as the smooth die steel specimen were comparatively investigated on a UMT-II tribo-meter. Results showed that the friction coefficient and wear volume varied according to the texture of specimens. Compared with unstructured samples, friction coefficient was higher while wear volume was slower under a low speed and heavy pressure conditions to simulate drawing die. With the increasing of the diameter and interspacing of micro-convexes, friction coefficient and wear volume of die steel decreased slowly. The laser textured specimen showed better friction and wear characteristics than that of smooth specimen.

Key words: laser texturing, micro-convex, die steel, friction and wear properties

Author: Fu Yonghong, Professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

E-mail: fyh@ujs.edu.cn

Tribology, Vol. , 29, Issue 5, 2009, 475-480.