Tribological Properties of DLC Coatings in Model-Based and Real-Life Tests

Machinery for internal transport in open-pit mines experiences excessive wear. Belt conveyors used for transporting aggregates are a type of equipment in which bearings are especially prone to failure. Considering the significant financial impact of equipment downtime, ensuring the high reliability of machinery in this sector is paramount. Consequently, the design of tribological interfaces should prioritize maximizing their reliability and minimizing the frequency of malfunctions. This article presents a comparative analysis of 100Cr6 steel and a-C:H type diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings applied using chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) on bearing components in belt conveyors. Model-based tribological tests were conducted on these materials in both laboratory and real-life settings, evaluating friction and wear under dry friction and under Renolit UNI 3 grease-lubricated conditions, the latter being the operational lubricant for these bearings.