ICMCTF 2012! - CD-Lab Application Oriented Coating Development

2012 R.F. Bunshah Annual Award & ICMCTF Lecture
Sture Hogmark
Materials Science and Tribology, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
This Award is intended to recognize outstanding research or technological innovation in the areas of interest to the Advanced
Surface Engineering Division (ASED) of the AVS, with emphasis on the fields of surface engineering, thin films, and related
topics.
Sture Hogmark began working on materials science aspects of tribology, which continued to be the
focus of his career, as a graduate student in Uppsala University, Sweden, in the early 1970s. With a
background in engineering physics, he obtained his PhD in 1976 based on his research into the mechanisms
of tool steel wear. In 1980, Hogmark initiated the Tribomaterials Group at the Ångström
Laboratory, and in 1998 he was appointed Professor of Materials Science and Tribology at Uppsala
University, a chair he occupied until his retirement in 2010. He is presently an Emeritus Professor of
Materials Science and Tribology.
Sture widened his research to include many kinds of tools and critical mechanical components. This
work was carried out in collaboration with Swedish companies including Uddeholm, Sandvik,
Erasteel, Volvo, and Scania. The science of tribology was initially very descriptive, and development
of reliable tests and test methodologies was an early priority. Energy savings and materials and
environmental conservation are global research targets.
Materials properties are linked to practical performance with the aim to design materials and surfaces that can generate low
friction and, hence, exhibit high wear resistance. FIB, SEM, TEM, ESCA, AES, AFM, and nanoindentation are examples of
important research tools.
In the late 1970s, Hogmark was one of the first to investigate the use of coatings on cutting tools to reduce wear, and later on
forming tools and mechanical components for which the combination of low friction, low wear, and excellent galling resistance
are essential. Today, his coatings research includes active “smart” materials that respond mechanically, chemically, or
with lubricants during tribological loading to reduce friction and wear.
Among Hogmark’s achievements are the following: developing the relationship between surface properties and sliding
friction (1979), deriving a model for hardness measurements in thin films (1984), synthesizing the first nanocrystalline
diamond coatings (1996), introducing wear-resistant multilayered coatings (1998), developing an understanding of residual
stresses in thin coatings (1999), elucidating the role of lubricant additives for protection of steel/diamond-like carbon film
contacts (2003), and explaining the superior tribological behaviour of stellite in heavily-loaded tribological contacts (2009).
Hogmark and his PhD students have launched several companies based on the results of their tribological research. These
include TiSurf International, Nova Diamant, Applied Nano Surfaces, and Primateria.
Hogmark has graduated more than 50 PhD students, published 180 papers, and presented more than 200 conference lectures.
Currently, he is engaged in research on the surfaces of skis for optimum glide and, together with colleagues, has recently
uncovered the “mystery” of the curling of curling stones. Another recent interest is the development of heat- and corrosionresistant
materials and thin film coatings for generation-IV nuclear reactors
Abstract: Tribological Coatings: Novel Concepts and Conditions for Successful Application
The expectations for tribological coatings are very high. On a global scale, they should help preserve the environment by minimizing
materials consumption and energy waste, while offering wear protection and low friction. In addition, coated tools and
components are expected to function as designed throughout long lifetimes. A large number of excellent coating materials have
been developed that have high hardness and wear resistance, and simultaneously exhibit very low friction. However, a good
coating material is not sufficient; a number of additional conditions must be fulfilled. This talk has two aims: to guide in the
selection and practical use of tribological coatings in order to enjoy their full potential, and to demonstrate some current trends
in coating development for low friction applications.
There are a number of parameters, as shown below, that determine whether a coated tool or mechanical component will function
successfully during its entire expected lifetime. Depending on the application, the external conditions that the coating
experiences will have a stronger or weaker influence.
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