Mechanisms of wear particle formation and detachment

• Main Author: Knowles, Gregory D.
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/5061

A fundamental investigation into the mechanism of wear particle formation for martensitic stainless steel has been conducted using the simple contact configuration of a hard steel ball and a flat stainless steel surface. The effects of changes in hardness and surface finish of the flat surface were examined for three lubrication conditions, over a wide range of test durations. Friction force and work data were collected during testing, and wear scars were examined by surface profilometry and optical and scanning electron microscopy. Results of this study demonstrate the operation of several complex wear mechanisms and the inherently microscopic scale of wear. A few simple models are suggested for the separate wear mechanisms; however greater understanding of many of the wear mechanisms will have to be achieved before a complete and predictive wear model can be developed.