Alternative Methods for Forming Sliding Surfaces of Face Impulse Seals

There are presented the results of analyzing literature sources and production experience for the choice of materials for face impulse seal rings (FIS) as well as basic requirements for manufacturing and operating thereof. It has been substantiated a need in manufacturing FIS rings made of alternative less expensive but not less qualitative materials. To carry out the research, there was chosen 38X2MIOA steel as a material for manufacturing FIS rings, the specimens of which were strengthened by ion nitriding (IN) and carbonitriding (CN) methods. At strengthening 38X2MIOA steel by the methods of IN and CN, the thickness of the strengthened layers reaches 500 microns, and their microhardness does up to 10,000 MPa. As a result of tribological studies, it has been stated that for all the series of the samples with increasing the loads there are increased the friction forces; At increasing a load up to 9.81 N, the coefficient of friction first increases, and then decreases; Friction of a steel ball moving over the surface of disks made of 38X2MIOA steel is accompanied with a slight wear, which is characteristic for normal friction.