Tech Beat

Tech Beat
Dr. Neil Canter / Contributing Editor

BAM: Antiwear and

friction-reducing coating
Researchers use computer modeling and
experimentation to study the movement of cracks
at low speeds through silicon.

R
Key concepts:
An alloy of boronaluminum-magnesium
(AlMgB14, nicknamed
BAM), with the addition
of titanium diboride
displays exceptionally
strong hardness.
The coefficient of friction
for the BAM-titanium
diboride alloy ranges
between 0.02 and 0.10.
The BAM, titanium
diboride alloy is being
evaluated as a coating
on a rotary vane pump
and as a tool coating
in machining.

educing wear and friction remains a constant goal to improve the efficiency,
decrease energy costs and extend the life of machinery. Both liquid and solid
lubricants play an important role in providing antiwear and lubricity characteristics
to achieve these results.
One solid coating that has gained more attention recently is an alloy of boronaluminum-magnesium (AlMgB14, nicknamed BAM) prepared initially with addition of silicon and more recently titanium diboride. BAM was found to exhibit
exceptionally strong hardness in 1999 by researchers at the U.S. Department of
Energys Ames Laboratory.
Alan Russell, professor of Material Science and Engineering at Iowa State University, in Ames, Iowa, says, BAM by itself displays a hardness between 30 and 32
gigapascals. Titanium diboride also has a similar value, but when we combine the
two materials a synergy develops that leads to an improvement in hardness.
Russell adds, Mixing BAM with titanium diboride produces a two-phase submicron microstructure that leads to an increase in hardness that ranges between
the mid-30s and low- 40s gigapascals, depending on the ratio of the two components.
Project leader Bruce Cook and Russell believe that BAM and titanium diboride
generate a strong bonded interface between the two materials. This interface inhibits crack formation.

Mixing BAM with titanium diboride produces a

two-phase submicron microstructure that leads
to an increase in hardness that ranges between
the mid-30s and low-40s gigapascals.
The coefficient of friction for the BAM-titanium diboride alloy ranges between
0.02 and 0.10, according to Russell. He adds, The high boron content contributes
to the low coefficient of friction. In contrast, polytetrafluoroethylene exhibits a
coefficient of friction between 0.05 and 0.06.
With its interesting properties, the BAM alloy has the potential to be useful in
lubricant applications. Russell says, We consider it to be not really a lubricant but
to act as a lubricant.

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TRIBOLOGY & LUBRICATION TECHNOLOGY

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One particularly promising application area in tool coatings is titanium

machining. This metal is widely used in aerospace applications.
LUBRICANT APPLICATIONS

ings is titanium machining. This metal is widely used in

aerospace applications. Russell says, Titanium is a highly
The BAM alloy is currently under evaluation by industry
reactive metal under high temperature machining conditions
partners as a coating on a hydraulic pump and on cutting
of 400 C or higher. This metal tends to dissolve tools.
tools for metalworking applications. Several techniques have
The BAM alloy is relatively inert toward titanium as evalubeen used to introduce the BAM alloy onto substrate surated in a very rigorous
faces.
test. Russell explains,
Russell says, We
We placed pieces of
use pulsed laser depotitanium and steel in a
sition that enables the
press and forced them
user to apply the exact
together at a pressure
stoichiometry desired.
of 10 megapascals and
The one limitation is
a temperature of 1,000
that of sample size.
C for a few hours. At
Russell indicated
the end of the procethat industry partners
dure, the steel and tievaluating the BAM altanium were welded
loy use more efficient
together and could not
techniques such as
be separated. When
magnetron sputtering
the test was run with
to apply the coating.
a BAM-coated steel
He adds, No incompiece and titanium, the
patibility
problems
two pieces fall apart
have been seen with
when removed from
the substrates used to
Figure 1 | The BAM-titanium diboride alloy exhibits exceptional hardness that can be
used as a tool coating to machine alloys such as stainless steel. (Courtesy of Iowa State
the die.
date. Those include
University)
In testing conductvarious steel alloys
ed by an industry part(such as tool steel and
ner, tools coated with the BAM alloy displayed 20% to 40%
low carbon steel), tungsten carbide and pure silicon.
better life during machining of a titanium alloy. Russell says,
Feedback from these partners indicates that the BAM alThis result is leading our partner to look at machining titaloy coatings are extremely durable. For example in cutting
nium at higher cutting speeds to improve productivity. The
tools, the BAM alloy displays particularly high wear resisBAM alloy coating is also useful in machining other alloys
tance vs. such alternative coatings as cubic boron nitride and
such as the stainless steel shown in Figure 1.
diamond. The coatings used are typically two to three miOther applications that Russell envisions for the BAM alcrons in thickness.
loy include as a coating on camshafts and bearings of heat
Rotary vane pumps can generate friction when the vanes
engines. He adds, Bulk BAM alloy also could be used in
contact the housing or stator. Currently, a hard tool steel
abrasive cutting tool nozzles in place of titanium carbide or
which is prepared by quenching is used, but this alloy is
sapphire. For this demanding application, even a BAM alloy
tough to machine and expensive.
coating would wear away.
Russell says, An industry partner applied the BAM alloy
Additional information on the BAM alloy can be found
coating to an ordinary alloy steel and found that the horsein a U.S. Patent.1 The BAM technology has been licensed for
power required from the pump dropped at startup by 6% to
8%. During steady state operation, the horsepower requirecommercialization applications to Newtech Ceramics of Des
ment of the pump declined by 3%.
Moines, Iowa. Further information can be found at www.
The savings in energy may allow the industry partner, an
newtechceramics.net.
OEM supplier of pumps, to downsize the motors. Russell
References
says, A switch to a more environmentally acceptable fluid
also is being evaluated as a means to improve cost perfor1. Cook, B., Harringa, J. and Russell, A. (2000), Superabramance and safety. The industry partner may begin commersive Boride and A Method of Preparing the Same by Mechancializing pumps containing the BAM alloy coating in 2010.
ical Alloying and Hot Pressing, U.S. Patent 6,099,605.
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