Influence of surface preparation on surface topography and tribological behaviours

Wear tests were conducted using a ball-on-disc tester. In the experiment, a 42CrMo4 steel disc with a hardness of 40HRC was placed in contact with a 100Cr6 steel ball with a diameter of 6.35 mm. The hardness of the ball was set to 62HRC. Disc samples were prepared to obtain surfaces in range to the Sq parameter but of less than 0.5 μm. Dry tests were carried out. During the tests, the friction force was monitored as a function of time. Disc and ball wear was measured after the tests using a white light interferometer Talysurf CCI Lite. To decrease variations in the experimental results, during the tests, wear debris was continuously removed from the disc surfaces. It was found that the initial surface topography has a significant influence on friction and wear levels under dry sliding conditions. It was also identified the correlation between several surface topography parameters and friction and wear.