Effect of a multilayer structure and lubrication on the tribological properties of coatings of Fe-W alloys

The methods for expanding the use of nanocrystalline electrolytic Fe-W alloys by creating a multilayer structure and using oil lubrication were studied. It was shown that lubricants can reduce the coefficient of friction and oxygen penetration into the sliding pairs, thus enhancing the wear resistance behaviour of Fe- W coatings as compared to that at dry friction, when the surface tribo-oxidation dominates. The electrodeposition of multilayer Fe-W/Cu coatings from a single bath was shown to be feasible. The tribological and mechanical properties of such coatings were investigated. The multilayer structure was found to improve the wear resistance characteristics of the coatings even at dry friction and at a relatively high normal load of 10 N.