Friction behavior of SUS 304 metastable austenitic stainless steel sheet against DC 53 die under the condition of friction coupling plastic deformation

Fe–Cr–Ni metastable austenitic stainless steel is widely used in industry because of its excellent performance of corrosion resistance in aggressive environment. The process of drawing austenitic stainless steel easily prompts to wear and the relevant friction behavior, under the condition of friction coupling plastic deformation, is seldom studied. This paper studies the friction behavior of SUS 304 metastable stainless steel sheet against DC 53 cold-working forming tool using a self-developed Tribo-tester that simultaneously deploys frictional sliding and tensile plastic deformation. Results indicated that the friction coefficients between SUS 304 sheet strip and DC 53 forming tool firstly descended rapidly in the initial stage A, which is followed by approaching an almost stable state in the successive stage B. In addition, friction coefficients under high sliding speed and large pressure head extension tend to decrease with the increasing of external weight loading. XRD investigation of phase transition reveals the relevant causing mechanisms. SEM observation allows identifying the wear of the SUS 304 steel slid against DC 53 forming tool being mainly adhesive wear and abrasive wear.

► Friction coupling plastic deformation is studied by a self developed Tribo-tester.
► The effect of the weight loading on the coefficients can be divided into two stages.
► The higher weight loading, the more transformed martensite.
► The major wear mechanism is adhesive wear and abrasive wear.