Frictional performance of surface-textured phenolic resin-impregnated graphite materials under water lubrication

The frictional performance between impregnated graphite materials and YG-8 cemented carbide is investigated on a self-developed rotating-type tribometer. The test configuration is a cemented carbide plate rotating against the graphite surface. Three types of concave-type textures, including linear grooves, circular dimples and isosceles triangular dimples, are fabricated by laser process on the graphite surfaces to improve the tribological properties. The test environments include dry condition and water lubrication. The corresponding friction coefficients, surface micrographs of graphite samples and cemented carbide plates are analyzed. To reveal the underlying mechanism of the frictional modification effect under water lubrication, the formation of graphite transfer film on cemented carbide plates, the water contact angles of graphite surface and the hydrodynamic effect are further discussed. It is verified that the introduction of textures on graphite surfaces can significantly improve the tribological performance of water-lubricated graphite materials.