Magnéli phases of anion-deficient rutile as lubricious oxides. Part I. Tribological behavior of single-crystal and polycrystalline rutile (Ti_nO_2n−1)

Abstract

In part I of this paper series, wide temperature range SEM-tribometric results generated in vacuum and various partial pressures of oxygen are combined with relevant literature data to examine a hypothesis correlating the oxygen stoichiometry of the Ti_nO_2n−1 Magnéli phases of the rutile polymorph of titania with their tribological behavior. Single-crystal and polycrystalline rutile specimens of narrow stoichiometry ranges were sliding against α-SiC and themselves. The surface shear strength changes were determined as a function of the thermal–atmospheric test environment, and the shear strength values were estimated by the coefficients of friction, the real area of contact and the published yield strength of rutile. The data appear to be sufficient and sufficiently reliable to confirm the accuracy of the hypothesis. The tendency of the rutile stoichiometry (ergo the friction) to shift as a function of temperature and partial pressure of oxygen causes this material to be thermo-oxidatively unstable for tribological applications in extreme environments. In part II, a study is described to formulate oxidatively more stable Magnéli phases by Cu-doping, and test the new materials by SEM tribometry using a procedure used for pure rutile here in part I. By employing this doping methodology similar to creating high-temperature superconductive oxides in part II, some feasibility of producing oxidatively stable, lubricious oxides with acceptably low wear rates is indicated.