Abstract
The reduction of friction of tribological components is considered to be necessary from a point of view of energy saving and environmental protection. This study investigates the effect of dimpling on the friction properties of a silicon nitride ceramic under low viscosity oil lubrication. Ring-on-disk friction tests under low viscosity oil lubrication were carried out over a range of load and sliding velocities, with a silicon nitride ceramic whose surface was dimpled. Consequently, the dimpled surface showed better tribological properties in terms of reduced friction coefficient compared with a lapped surface. Moreover, it was shown that for the dimpled material, the dimples acted as reservoirs for the oil and subsequently the increase in friction associated with the transition from fluid film lubrication to boundary lubrication was delayed in comparison with the non dimpled material.
