The Tribological Performance of Black Oxide Coating in Rolling/Sliding Contacts

Different aspects of the tribological performance of black oxidized surfaces in rolling-sliding boundary-lubricated or mixed lubricated contacts are overviewed in the present work. It covers the topics of antimicropitting resistance, antismearing effects, reduction in boundary friction, repelling tribochemical attacks of aggressive lubricants or additives, running-in behavior, and the effect of black oxide coating on bearing life. The results of the component laboratory experiments, full bearing tests, and theoretical modeling, performed within the frame of the present work, shed light upon the benefits and limitations of using black oxide coating for bearing applications.