Insights into the behaviour of tool steel-aluminium alloy tribopair at different temperatures

Friction and wear of a tribopair: aluminium alloy 6082 and tool steel H13, were studied at room temperature and elevated temperatures corresponding to hot forming of aluminium alloys. At the contact pressure of 510 MPa, abrasive wear of the tool steel was the main degradation mechanism observed. At the contact pressure of 810 MPa, galling, i.e., severe adhesive wear of the aluminium alloy occurred at 350 °C, while at all other temperatures, abrasive wear of the tool steel dominated. Oxidation greatly enhanced wear of the tool steel, yielding greater material losses with increase in test temperature. Some of the wear debris that was released from the steel discs accumulated on the pin surfaces and formed a glaze layer capable of plastic deformation.