Laser clad lubricant layer with graphite/BN

A composite thin clad layer containing graphite and hexagonal boron nitride powders was tried to form on stainless steel using a continuous-wave C0~ gas laser. The layer formed only with boron nitride has no appreciable effect on friction reduction. Increase in graphite content in the coatings led to lower friction. A good lubricant layer with the lowest friction and the longest life was obtained from the powder mixture with higher graphite content about