The tribological characteristics of experimental aluminum-based antifriction materials are studied. The structures of the surface layers are examined, as well as the chemical composition of the surface of the original alloys and those tested for run-in, wear resistance, and scoring. It has been found that these alloys consist of the three following phase constituents: a matrix, which is complex-alloyed aluminum; an Al2Cu-Θ phase, which plays a role of a hardener; and a soft Sn + Pb phase constituent, which acts as solid lubricant. The effect of the chemical composition of the surface on the tribological behavior of the materials under study has been shown.

The mechanical and tribological properties of thin (up to 300 nm) oxide coatings that are produced by the carboxylate method and have various chemical compositions and thicknesses and are deposited on substrates from different materials (steel or quartz glass) have been assessed. The study involves the surface examination and the determination of the surface roughness of specimens using optical and atomic force microscopes, the determination of the elastic properties of the coatings based on indentation results, as well as the study of their tribological behavior during dry and lubricated sliding.

The process of the formation of protective films on a contact surface after tribotesting is studied. The following three sliding pairs are tested: babbit-cast iron, aluminum antifriction alloy-cast iron, and bronze-steel. Metallographic methods implemented on a scanning electron microscope and local X-ray analysis are applied to examine the structure and relief of the protective film on the contact surface. The relationship between mass transfer and the tribological characteristics of the friction pairs is found. It is shown that the central process of the formation of secondary structure films evolves on the counterface.

The processes running on the surface of carbon plastics during their friction over a steel counterbody are considered. The structure, composition, and tribological characteristics of the secondary structure film produced by friction are studied. The dependences of the friction coefficient and wear on the pressure and sliding velocity are found. The results of comparative tests allow the authors to dis-tinguish carbon plastic ФУТ Б83 as having the lowest friction coefficient and carbon plastic УГЭТ as the most wear-resistant.

The paper deals with the processes that occur on surfaces of composite coatings of bronze-PTFE and carbon-glass fiber-epoxy resin compositions during their friction against a steel counterbody. Data on the morphology and roughness of their surfaces, as well as on their structure and composition, are obtained. The materials are studied through examination of laboratory specimens and a sliding bearing after its operation. Oxidation and secondary structure formation are found to affect changes in the friction coefficient.

Tribopairs of steel-polyurethane filled with high-stannous Babbitt B83 powder are studied in comparison with the copper powder filler in terms of self-organization. The friction surfaces and composition of secondary structures appearing in the tribocontact of steel 45 rollers with polyurethane blocks filled with Babbitt powder are examined. The optimal composition of the filler proved to be 10% of B83. New structures atypical of classical thermodynamics are revealed.

The processes evolving on carboplastic surfaces during contact interaction with a steel counterbody are discussed. The structure, composition, and tribological properties of the film of secondary structures appearing during friction are investigated. The dependences of the friction coefficient and wear on pressure and sliding velocity are established. The results of comparative tests allow us to identify FUT B83 as the carboplastic with the lowest friction coefficient and UGET as the carboplastic with the greatest wear resistance.

The paper discusses structural adaptability during friction from the viewpoint of the theory of self-organization. The friction surfaces and the composition of secondary structures formed during rubbing of steel-45 rollers against polyurethane blocks containing metal powder fillers of various compositions are studied. New secondary structures not characteristic of classical thermodynamics are revealed.

Structural changes that occur in silver-copper solders during their production with the use of new technological processes are considered. Metallography, electron microanalysis (EMA), and Auger electron analysis (AES) have been used to study changes at the contact surface of the material and their effect on the processes of solder flowing. The contents of alloying elements in phase constituents of the alloy have been determined. The composition of films formed on the surface of the material has been found. The data obtained allowed the optimization of the technological process of fabricating solders and increasing the quality of soldering.