Multi-scale wear mechanism of material surface and hinge interface based on TC4 alloy in space environment
Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
ISSN: 0036-8792
Article publication date: 20 June 2024
Issue publication date: 26 June 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to clarify the influence of low earth orbit space environment on the wear mechanism of TC4 alloy material and crank rocker mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, friction experiments were carried out on TC4 alloy friction discs and crank rocker mechanisms, both before and after exposure to atomic oxygen and proton irradiation. Nanoindentation, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to systematically characterize alterations in mechanical properties, surface phase, and chemical composition.
Findings
The results show that the wear mechanism of TC4 alloy friction disc is mainly adhesive wear in vacuum environment, while the wear mechanism of crank rocker mechanism includes not only adhesive wear but also abrasive wear. Atomic oxygen exposure leads to the formation of more oxides on the surface of TC4 alloy, which form abrasive particles during the friction process. Proton irradiation will lead to a decrease in fatigue performance and an increase in hardness on the surface of TC4 alloy, thus causing fatigue wear on the surface of TC4 alloy, and more furrows appear on the crank rocker mechanism after proton irradiation. In the three environments, the characteristics of abrasive wear of the crank rocker mechanism are more obvious than those of the TC4 alloy friction disc.
Originality/value
These results highlight the importance of understanding the subtle effects of atomic oxygen and proton irradiation on the wear behavior of TC4 alloy and provide some insights for optimizing its performance in space applications.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-02-2024-0051/
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Multiple Investment Fund for Applied Basic Research of Tianjin (No. 21JCZDJC00710), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.: 52203085), the Research Program of Local Science and Technology Development under the Guidance of Central (236Z1208G).
Data availability: The data that has been used is confidential.
Citation
Wang, D., Huang, C., Hu, N. and Wei, Q. (2024), "Multi-scale wear mechanism of material surface and hinge interface based on TC4 alloy in space environment", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 76 No. 5, pp. 620-631. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-02-2024-0051
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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