Self organizing nano-structured surfaces

Project coordinator: Urban Wiklund

Centrum Partners:

Staffan Jacobsson, Ulf Jansson, Karin Larsson, Sture Hogmark, Åsa Kassman and Mattias Carlsson (Uppsala)
Hans Högberg and Lars Hultman (Linköping)

Scientific Objectives

Manufacture and investigation of an MC-C system that exhibits self-organization of a low friction surface layer.
Initiate theoretical modeling including quantum mechanical and thermo dynamical calculations.

Technology Transfer Objectives

The project fits our established network of industrial partners, including job coaters, steel makers, tool makers, oil companies and mechanical industry very well. Goal for 2006:

Initiate at least four of the following partners in project meetings and work shops: Volvo, ABB, Scania, Hägglunds Drives, Agro Oil, Sandvik, Balzers,

Research plan:

First principle Density functional theory (DFT) will be used in modeling and simulating the effect of loading on the surface formations with specific chemical composition, structure and reactivity. Surface processes involving not only pressure- and temperature-induced effects of the materials itself will be studied. Also reactions with e.g. atmospheric species will be focused in calculating the frictional properties of the modified surfaces.
Develop and invest in dedicated equipment for Nanotribology and tribochemical characterization.
Grow TiC-C and related MeCx-C films under industrially relevant conditions.
Perform High resolution microscopy and analyses using techniques as FIB, TEM and ESCA will be used to understand the chemical and physical processes for the formation of the low friction surface layers as well as the tribological behavior of the coated contact system.