Enhancing Tribological Performance of Gray Cast Iron by Laser Surface Texturing of Micro-grooves and Micro-crosshatches

This study investigates the influence of laser surface texturing, specifically micro-grooves, and micro-crosshatches, on gray cast iron surfaces and analyzes their friction and wear characteristics with varying patterns and line spacing. The texturing process involved the use of a nanosecond laser with a 100 ns pulse duration and a 527 nm wavelength. Laser ablation resulted in open-structured graphite flakes on the surface, forming valley-like features with non-uniform groove depths. Tribological testing was conducted using a ball-on-disk tribometer under dry conditions. The findings revealed a significant reduction in friction coefficients, with micro-crosshatch and micro-groove textures yielding reductions of 92.6% and 91.5%, respectively, compared to untextured surfaces. The analysis considered factors such as wear debris trapping, the contact area between sliding surfaces, and the presence of graphite flakes, all of which influence the mechanisms contributing to the achieved ultra-low friction and enhanced wear properties.