Wear is one of the most unwanted process in engineering, leading to a large part of machine failures and significant economic losses. Therefore, increasing of wear resistance is the most relevant challenge of science and engineering challenge. Reduction of wear allows you to ensure the durability, reliability of machines and their components, and, along with secondary recycling of materials, is one of the most important ways to achieve the circular economy goals. In order to extend the life of parts, the formation of wear resistant coatings on components working surfaces is one of the most cost-effective solutions to reduce the use of rare alloying elements. The aim of this project is to investigate the possibility of using purified silicon from solar cells to achieve higher uniformity and wear resistance of coatings. The wear resistant coating composition will be formed by introducing purified silicon from the solar cell module. The coatings will be formed using different coating techniques – plasma welding and powder metallurgy – liquid phase sintering; welling under the flux and using non-consumable electrode in an inert gas environment. The mechanical tests, optical and scanning electronic microscopic analysis along with X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis will be carried out during the project. Wear tests will be performed in laboratories using standard and original abrasion testing equipment: two-body abrasion abrasion device, three-body abrasion abrasion device, abrasive abrasion device and abrasive-erosion wear device, simulating real abrasion techniques.
Project funding:
KTU R&D&I Fund
Period of project implementation: 2019-04-01 - 2019-12-31
Project partners: Lithuanian Energy Institute
