Tribochemical Interactions of Boron Carbide Against Steel

Auger electron spectroscopy and electron microscopy were used to investigate the surface chemistry and tribological properties of boron carbide sliding against 0.45% carbon steel. It was revealed that the interacting process was accompanied by the diffusion of the ceramic elements into steel and by the oxidation of the steel and ceramic surfaces due to the oxygen presence in the atmosphere. It was established that the oxidation process in air or during friction tests leads to a graphitized layer on the boron carbide surface under the B sub 2 O sub 3 film. It was demonstrated that the oxidation caused a decrease in the friction coefficient of boron carbide sliding against steel.