Tribochemical wear of phosphate laser glass against silica ball in water

Friction and wear behavior of phosphate laser (PL) glass against silica ball was investigated in dry air and water to understand the tribochemical wear mechanism of PL glass in water. Lower wear volume in PL glass was found in water than in air. The suppressed wear behavior in PL glass cannot be explained by stress-corrosion and tribo-corrosion. The comparison of wear results rubbing against ceramic balls indicate the counter-surface chemistry of silica ball is critical for reduced wear of PL glass in water. The tribochemical reaction products between silica and water are responsible for the low wear of PL glass.