Texture surface containing both micro-pits and a thin carbon coating was produced using laser surface texturing and magnetic-control vacuum sputtering. Tribological properties of the laser-textured surface coated with thin carbon were experimentally investigated at low-temperature (8–10 °C) under starved and lubricated conditions with a ring-on-ring test rig. The results indicated that the laser-textured surface combined with carbon coating (textured + coating) exhibited low wear intensity and friction coefficient under lubricated conditions, while moderate wear was observed under starved lubrication conditions as compared with the smooth, textured, and carbon-coated surfaces. The wear mechanisms of the lubricated, textured, coated surface under three working conditions (10 N and 1.25 m/s, 16 N and 0.25 m/s, and 50 N and 0.05 m/s) revealed plowing effect, corrosion, and adhesive wear, while oxidative and adhesive wears were observed under starved lubrication. Finally, the textured, coated surface was freely adaptable to different working conditions and exhibited additional effects for better tribological applications at low-temperature as compared with the smooth, laser-textured, and carbon-coated surfaces.

The influence of donut-shaped bump texture on the hydrodynamic lubrication performance for parallel surfaces is presented in this paper. A mathematical equation has been applied to express the shape of three-dimensional donut-shaped bump texture. Numerical simulation of the pressure distribution of lubricant between a textured slider and a smooth, moving slider has been performed to analyze the geometrical parameters' influence on the hydrodynamic performance for textured surfaces. The numerical results show that the convex of the donut-shaped bump provides a microstep slider, which can form a convergent wedge and build up hydrodynamic pressure. Optimum values of horizontal spacing and bump height are obtained to maximize the hydrodynamic pressure. It is also noted that the average pressure increases monotonically with the increase of bump radius, but decreases with the increase of vertical spacing and dimple depth, respectively.

Textured coating technology is an effective method to improve the friction and wear performance of mold surfaces. The adhesion strength at the interface between the texture and the coating is crucial for its long-term serviceability. This paper studies the adhesion strength of micro-dimple’s topography textured coatings, aiming to reveal the influence mechanism of micro-dimples on the adhesion strength of textured coating interfaces. Different diameters or texture area ratios of micro-dimples were prepared on the sample surface using a picosecond laser, followed by PVD coating deposition. Scratching tests and indentation tests were then conducted on the textured coating surface. The adhesion strength and crack propagation behavior of the coating on the surface of different samples were studied under dynamic and static contact conditions. The results showed that under dynamic contact conditions, the critical load for coating failure of most textured samples was higher than that of non-textured samples. As the depth and diameter of the micro-dimple’s topography increased, the critical load first increased and then decreased, with the maximum critical load being 14.9% higher than that of the non-textured samples. Under static contact conditions, almost no coating spalling was observed around the indentation on the surface of the micro-dimple’s topography textured coating, while the spalling areas of non-textured samples were mainly at the edges and surrounding areas of the indentation. In contrast, the spalling regions of the textured samples were primarily concentrated at the edges of the texture. It can be seen that the dimpled texture hinders crack propagation and reduces the interlocking network of cracks, thereby reducing coating spalling. The research results provide important theoretical guidance for the design and optimization of textured coatings on mold surfaces.