Friction coefficient and wear mode transition in micro-scale abrasion tests

The purpose of this work was to conduct ball-cratering wear tests to monitor both normal and tangential forces. Balls of 52100 steel, a specimen of H10 tool steel and an abrasive slurry prepared with silicon carbide particles and distilled water were used. Optical microscopy analysis of the worn craters revealed the presence of only grooving abrasion. However, a more detailed analysis conducted by SEM has indicated that different degrees of rolling abrasion have also occurred along the grooves. The results also showed that the normal force plays an important role in the scattering of the values of the friction coefficient.

► A ball-cratering equipment able to measure tangential force was constructed.
► SEM images have indicated that rolling abrasion have occurred along the grooves.
► Normal force plays an important role on the scattering of the friction coefficient.