Characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen-free conditions

Abstract Engineering in vacuum or under a protective atmosphere permits the production of materials, wherever the absence of oxygen is an essential demand for a successful processing. However, very few studies have provided quantitative evidence of the effect of oxidized surfaces to tribological pro...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Selina Raumel, Khemais Barienti, Hoang-Thien Luu, Nina Merkert, Folke Dencker, Florian Nürnberger, Hans Jürgen Maier, Marc Christopher Wurz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tsinghua University Press 2023-02-01
Series:Friction
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-022-0695-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849308718686011392
author Selina Raumel
Khemais Barienti
Hoang-Thien Luu
Nina Merkert
Folke Dencker
Florian Nürnberger
Hans Jürgen Maier
Marc Christopher Wurz
author_facet Selina Raumel
Khemais Barienti
Hoang-Thien Luu
Nina Merkert
Folke Dencker
Florian Nürnberger
Hans Jürgen Maier
Marc Christopher Wurz
author_sort Selina Raumel
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Engineering in vacuum or under a protective atmosphere permits the production of materials, wherever the absence of oxygen is an essential demand for a successful processing. However, very few studies have provided quantitative evidence of the effect of oxidized surfaces to tribological properties. In the current study on 99.99% pure copper, it is revealed that tribo-oxidation and the resulting increased abrasive wear can be suppressed by processing in an extreme high vacuum (XHV) adequate environment. The XHV adequate atmosphere was realized by using a silane-doped shielding gas (1.5 vol% SiH4 in argon). To analyse the influence of the ambient atmosphere on the tribological and mechanical properties, a ball—disk tribometer and a nanoindenter were used in air, argon, and silane-doped argon atmosphere for temperatures up to 800 °C. Resistance measurements of the resulting coatings were carried out. To characterize the microstructures and the chemical compositions of the samples, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used. The investigations have revealed a formation of η-Cu3Si in silane-doped atmosphere at 300 °C, as well as various intermediate stages of copper silicides. At temperatures above 300 °C, the formation of γ-Cu5Si were detected. The formation was linked to an increase in hardness from 1.95 to 5.44 GPa, while the Young’s modulus increased by 46% to 178 GPa, with the significant reduction of the wear volume by a factor of 4.5 and the suppression of further oxidation and susceptibility of chemical wear. In addition, the relevant diffusion processes were identified using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
format Article
id doaj-art-1a25c51cdc014c52bc656d8fdc94d48d
institution Kabale University
issn 2223-7690
2223-7704
language English
publishDate 2023-02-01
publisher Tsinghua University Press
record_format Article
series Friction
spelling doaj-art-1a25c51cdc014c52bc656d8fdc94d48d2025-08-20T03:54:21ZengTsinghua University PressFriction2223-76902223-77042023-02-011181505152110.1007/s40544-022-0695-5Characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen-free conditionsSelina Raumel0Khemais Barienti1Hoang-Thien Luu2Nina Merkert3Folke Dencker4Florian Nürnberger5Hans Jürgen Maier6Marc Christopher Wurz7Institute of Micro Production Technology, Leibniz Universität HannoverInstitut für Werkstoffkunde (Materials Science), Leibniz Universität HannoverInstitute of Applied Mechanics, Clausthal University of TechnologyInstitute of Applied Mechanics, Clausthal University of TechnologyInstitute of Micro Production Technology, Leibniz Universität HannoverInstitut für Werkstoffkunde (Materials Science), Leibniz Universität HannoverInstitut für Werkstoffkunde (Materials Science), Leibniz Universität HannoverInstitute of Micro Production Technology, Leibniz Universität HannoverAbstract Engineering in vacuum or under a protective atmosphere permits the production of materials, wherever the absence of oxygen is an essential demand for a successful processing. However, very few studies have provided quantitative evidence of the effect of oxidized surfaces to tribological properties. In the current study on 99.99% pure copper, it is revealed that tribo-oxidation and the resulting increased abrasive wear can be suppressed by processing in an extreme high vacuum (XHV) adequate environment. The XHV adequate atmosphere was realized by using a silane-doped shielding gas (1.5 vol% SiH4 in argon). To analyse the influence of the ambient atmosphere on the tribological and mechanical properties, a ball—disk tribometer and a nanoindenter were used in air, argon, and silane-doped argon atmosphere for temperatures up to 800 °C. Resistance measurements of the resulting coatings were carried out. To characterize the microstructures and the chemical compositions of the samples, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used. The investigations have revealed a formation of η-Cu3Si in silane-doped atmosphere at 300 °C, as well as various intermediate stages of copper silicides. At temperatures above 300 °C, the formation of γ-Cu5Si were detected. The formation was linked to an increase in hardness from 1.95 to 5.44 GPa, while the Young’s modulus increased by 46% to 178 GPa, with the significant reduction of the wear volume by a factor of 4.5 and the suppression of further oxidation and susceptibility of chemical wear. In addition, the relevant diffusion processes were identified using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-022-0695-5wear behaviortribochemical reactionoxidation behaviorsurface analysismolecular dynamics (MD) simulation
spellingShingle Selina Raumel
Khemais Barienti
Hoang-Thien Luu
Nina Merkert
Folke Dencker
Florian Nürnberger
Hans Jürgen Maier
Marc Christopher Wurz
Characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen-free conditions
Friction
wear behavior
tribochemical reaction
oxidation behavior
surface analysis
molecular dynamics (MD) simulation
title Characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen-free conditions
title_full Characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen-free conditions
title_fullStr Characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen-free conditions
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen-free conditions
title_short Characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen-free conditions
title_sort characterization of the tribologically relevant cover layers formed on copper in oxygen and oxygen free conditions
topic wear behavior
tribochemical reaction
oxidation behavior
surface analysis
molecular dynamics (MD) simulation
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s40544-022-0695-5
work_keys_str_mv AT selinaraumel characterizationofthetribologicallyrelevantcoverlayersformedoncopperinoxygenandoxygenfreeconditions
AT khemaisbarienti characterizationofthetribologicallyrelevantcoverlayersformedoncopperinoxygenandoxygenfreeconditions
AT hoangthienluu characterizationofthetribologicallyrelevantcoverlayersformedoncopperinoxygenandoxygenfreeconditions
AT ninamerkert characterizationofthetribologicallyrelevantcoverlayersformedoncopperinoxygenandoxygenfreeconditions
AT folkedencker characterizationofthetribologicallyrelevantcoverlayersformedoncopperinoxygenandoxygenfreeconditions
AT floriannurnberger characterizationofthetribologicallyrelevantcoverlayersformedoncopperinoxygenandoxygenfreeconditions
AT hansjurgenmaier characterizationofthetribologicallyrelevantcoverlayersformedoncopperinoxygenandoxygenfreeconditions
AT marcchristopherwurz characterizationofthetribologicallyrelevantcoverlayersformedoncopperinoxygenandoxygenfreeconditions