Surface Textures Fabricated by Laser Surface Texturing and Diamond Cutting – Influence of Texture Depth on Friction and Wear

In the present work, the authors study the tribological characteristics of textured stainless steel surfaces with different texture depths ranging from 1.3 to 23 µm created by laser surface texturing and ultra‐precision diamond cutting. The periodicity of the surface textures is kept constant at 90 µm for each fabrication technique and texture depth. Subsequent ball‐on‐disk friction tests show that friction and wear can be effectively reduced by the surface texturing. It is found that the effectiveness of the surface textures greatly depends on the depth and the geometry of the textures, as well as on testing parameters such as the applied load and the sliding velocity. Surface textures with the lowest depth demonstrate a slightly increased COF as well as an increased mass loss under low loads or sliding velocities. On the other hand, surface textures with intermediate depths show a significant reduction in the COF and wear. The observed friction and wear reduction can be mainly attributed to a combined effect of the surface textures consisting of the generation of an additional hydrodynamic pressure, the storage of produced wear particles as well as the action as secondary source for lubricant (reservoir effect).