Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4985936 Tribology International 2017 20 Pages PDF
Abstract
Crack surrounded by areas of microstructural alteration deemed “White Etching Cracks” (WECs) lead to premature failures within a multitude applications. While the exact cause of these failures remains unknown, a large number of hypotheses exist as to how and why these cracks form. The aim of the current work is to study newly initiated WEC networks using X-ray tomography followed by selective sectioning, in an attempt to elucidate the formation mechanisms of these cracks. The results obtained show that, for the presented bearing, WECs form preferentially around multi-phase inclusions containing aluminum, manganese, and sulfur. Additionally the results support the idea that the microstructural alterations form secondary to any cracking, suggesting that the alterations are simply a symptom of a pre-existing failure.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Colloid and Surface Chemistry
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