The dry wear of steels II. Interpretation and special features

Abstract

Abstract The pattern of wear outlined in part I is interpreted in the light of further experiments which reveal that the change from severe wear to mild is governed by the hardness and state of oxidation of the surfaces. At light loads (< T1) severe wear is inhibited by the combined effects of strain hardening and oxidation. At higher loads (> T2) mild wear recurs primarily as a consequence of a change of phase induced by frictional heating. The hardness accompanying the phase change is great enough, initially, to suppress severe wear without the intervention of an oxide film. At loads immediately above T2, however, the hardness tends to fall if rubbing is prolonged and oxidation is again essential to preserve the mild wear state. Sustained phase-hardening does not occur until a higher load, roughly coinciding with the T3 transition, is attained and this finding has an important bearing on the influence of inert atmospheres. The onset of permanent hardening is not responsible for the divergent pin and ring wear rates at T3, though the phenomena may be linked by the magnitude of the temperatures required to cause phase-hardening; the T3 transition and the trend at higher loads have been identified as special effects associated with the thermal asymmetry of the rubbing system.