Experimental investigation of oil pockets effect on abrasive wear resistance

The experiments were carried out using a block-on-ring tester. The stationary blocks were modified by a burnishing technique in order to obtain surfaces with oil pockets of spherical shape. The area density of oil pockets varied in order to explore their effect on wear resistance and wear intensity. Specimen surfaces had dimples with depths 45–60 μm and diameters 1–1.2 mm. The area density of oil pockets Sp was in the range 4–20%. The block samples were made from bronze B101 (CuSn10P) of 138 HB hardness. The rotated rings were made from 42CrMo4 steel, hardness of 40 HRC obtained after heat treatment. The tested assembly was lubricated by mineral oil L-AN 46. The experiment was carried out under artificially increased dustiness conditions. The dust added to oil consists mainly of SiO2 (74%) and Al2O3 (15%) particles. During the test friction force and temperature of block sample were registered. The tendencies of block surface topography changes during wear were analysed. It was found that sliding pairs with textured specimens were not superior to a system with a turned block with regard to abrasive wear resistance.

► Surface texturing had a harmful effect on abrasive wear resistance.
► Dimple presence had a beneficial effect on resistance to motion.
► All textured samples showed a strong running-in effect in the first 243 m of sliding.
► Differences in samples wear with clean and dusty oil were mainly in the first 243 m of sliding.
► Quartz dust presence caused higher resistance to motion.