Relation between Wear of Iron and Steel and Sliding Surface Temperature

Abstract

The wear characteristics of 0.42%C steel, 17Cr stainless steel and pearlitic cast iron at relatively low sliding speed have been examined by the pin-disc type wear machine in relation to the sliding surface temperature, and the general relation between wear of iron and steel and the sliding surface temperature has been estimated from this experiment and the previous reports. Both the temperature of actual contacting regions (flash temperature) and the mean temperature of apparent contacting surface were considered as the sliding surface temperature. To measure the flash temperature by the dynamic thermoelectromotive force method, 0.42%C steel and cast iron were rubbed against 17Cr stainless steel and 17Cr stainless steel was rubbed against 0.60%C steel.
It has become clear that the wear characteristics of iron and steel can be understood systematically by the mutual relation between the flash temperature and the mean temperature of the sliding surface. Regardless of the sliding condition, when the flash temperature is about 300°C, the maximum point of wear by the severe wear appears, and wear being a very little below 250°C. When the flash temperature is so high as some of the actual contacting regions reach or approach to the melting point, wear depends on the mean temperature. It occurs slightly at relatively low mean temperature and the scuffing occurs at relatively high mean temperature.