Friction and wear characterization of sintered low alloyed chromium steels for structural components

Sintered and sintered/gas nitrided cylinders made of low alloyed chromium steel Astaloy CrL + 0.45 C at 7.25 g/cm3 density, have been tested for scuffing resistance and wear rate in a crossed cylinders test setup lubricated with a commercial SAE 10W40 engine oil at 90 °C. The results show large potential of 1 h gas nitriding of the sintered chromium steel cylinders. The nitrided cylinders experienced safe wear at 1000 MPa and scuffing at 1100 MPa at 2.5 m/s. At 0.5 and 0.1 m/s at least up to 800 MPa the wear was mild, as sintered chromium cylinders showed scuffing at pressure lower than 320 MPa and limited wear at 0.5 and 0.1 m/s.

► Lower and upper bounds for IRG wear transition diagram of sintered low alloyed chromium steels defined.
► One-hour gas nitriding of sintered low alloyed chromium steels rise onset to scuffing to over 1000 MPa.