Enhancing the Surface Integrity of Tribologically Stressed Contacting Surfaces by an Adjusted Surface Topography

Tribological systems are more and more used under mixed and boundary friction conditions. Typically the running-in phase of a tribological system shows a wear rate which is significantly higher than the wear rate during steady state. Commonly it is assumed that smoother surfaces would lead to lower wear rates. A new approach aims at the shortening of the running-in phase by adjusting the surface topography. Specific topographies resulting from milling, grinding, and honing processes were generated and tribologically tested under lubricated sliding wear conditions. Wear tests showed a distinct influence of the surface topography regarding wear rate and running-in time.