Investigating the Tribological Properties of the High-Hardness, Low-Young’s-Modulus 60NiTi Alloy: A Combined FEM Simulation and Experimental Study

This study investigates the tribological properties of the 60NiTi alloy, known for its high hardness and low Young’s modulus, using a combination of finite element method (FEM) simulations and experimental analysis. A discrete modified Archard model was employed to establish an FEM of a 60NiTi plate paired with an Si₃N₄ ball, with CSS-42L bearing steel serving as the comparison material. The analysis focused on stress distribution, wear depth, and wear rate to assess the suitability of 60NiTi as a bearing material. The FEM results indicated that, under a 30 N load, the peak stress in 60NiTi was reduced by 22.7% compared to CSS-42L, demonstrating the alloy’s superior load-bearing capacity. Post-experimentation, both surface and subsurface hardness of the 60NiTi alloy increased, aligning with the stress distribution predicted by FEM, thereby confirming the model’s accuracy and reliability. This study highlights the potential of 60NiTi alloy for applications requiring robust wear resistance and stress management under varying load conditions.