Effect of 160 MeV Xenon Ion Irradiation on the Tribological Properties and Crystal Structure of 100Cr6 Bearing Steel

Mariusz Kamiński; Piotr Budzyński; Zbigniew Surowiec; Marek Wiertel; Maxim V Zdorovets; Artem Kozlovskiy; Janusz Waliszewski; Marek Magdziak

doi:10.3390/ma16206660

Effect of 160 MeV Xenon Ion Irradiation on the Tribological Properties and Crystal Structure of 100Cr6 Bearing Steel

Materials (Basel). 2023 Oct 12;16(20):6660. doi: 10.3390/ma16206660.

Authors

Mariusz Kamiński¹, Piotr Budzyński¹, Zbigniew Surowiec², Marek Wiertel², Maxim V Zdorovets^{3

4}, Artem Kozlovskiy³, Janusz Waliszewski⁵, Marek Magdziak⁶

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 36, 20-618 Lublin, Poland.
² Institute of Physics, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Pl. Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej 1, 20-031 Lublin, Poland.
³ Lab Solid State Phys, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Ibragimov Str. 1, Almaty 050032, Kazakhstan.
⁴ Engn Profile Lab, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev Str. 2, Astyana 010008, Kazakhstan.
⁵ Faculty of Physics, University of Bialystok, K. Ciołkowskiego 1L, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland.
⁶ Department of Manufacturing Techniques and Automation, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, Rzeszów University of Technology, al. Powstańców Warszawy 12, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland.

Abstract

This is the first study ever to show the impact of high-energy 160 MeV xenon ion irradiation on the properties of 100Cr6 bearing steel. The projected range (R_p) of xenon ions is 8.2 µm. Fluence-dependent variations in the coefficient of friction and wear of the 100Cr6 steel material have been observed. These changes correlate with shifts in the crystal lattice constant and variations in the oxygen, carbon, and iron content in the wear track. Fluence-dependent changes in these parameters have been observed for the first time. Irradiation reduces stresses in the crystal lattice, leading to crystallite size increase. The modifications in the properties of 100Cr6 steel result from radiation-induced defects caused by electronic ion stopping. The degree of these modifications depends on the applied irradiation fluence. Furthermore, the use of a higher irradiation fluence value appears to mitigate the effects produced by a lower fluence.

Keywords: bearing steel; crystal lattice parameters; irradiation; tribological properties; xenon ions.

Grants and funding

MEiN/2022/DPI/2575/"VIA CARPATIA Universities of Technology Network named after the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczyński" contract no. MEiN/2022/DPI/2575 action entitled "In the neighborhood - inter-university research internships and study visits."