The influence of ball burnishing on friction in lubricated sliding

Abstract

Ball burnishing treatment, using the Ecoroll system, of steel samples was conducted. In the experiment, the burnishing pressure was changed. After the treatments, measurements of the surface topographies of disc samples were conducted using a white light interferometer Talysurf CCI Lite. Tribological tests were carried out in a ball-on-disc configuration. After these tests, measurements of surface topographies of disc samples were repeated. Worn surfaces were also analyzed with a scanning electron microscope. It was found that as the result of burnishing, surface topography height of tested samples decreased. Ball burnishing led to a reduction in the frictional resistance. The highest friction reduction of more than 40% was achieved with a burnishing pressure of 20 MPa.