Improving Tribological Performance of Phosphate Ceramic Coating Reinforced by Oriented Fe3O4/h-BN Hybrid

To enhance the tribological property of Ti-6Al-4V alloy, a chemically bonded phosphate ceramic coating (CBPC) reinforced by oriented ferroferric oxide-hexagonal boron nitride (Fe3O4/h-BN) was fabricated via a weak magnetic field. FTIR, TEM, SEM, and EDS were employed to systematically investigate the structural evolution of Fe3O4/h-BN hybrids. Furthermore, the wear resistance of CBPC was assessed through tribological tests, supported by microstructure and phase characterization. The results demonstrate that increasing the Fe3O4/h-BN hybrid content significantly reduces both the friction coefficient and wear rate of CBPC. Additionally, CBPC with aligned h-BN exhibits superior wear resistance compared to coatings containing randomly dispersed h-BN. This enhancement arises from three key mechanisms: Firstly, the magnetic-field-induced alignment of h-BN platelets facilitates efficient stress distribution, reducing localized wear damage. Secondly, the hybrid structure promotes the generation of a protective lubricating film during friction, which reduces shear forces and abrasive wear. Thirdly, within an optimal range, higher h-BN loading promotes coating densification, leading to superior wear resistance. These findings highlight the potential of coating with magnetically aligned structures for developing high-performance, wear-resistant materials in industrial applications.