Use of positron annihilation measurements to detect the defect beneath worn surface of stainless steel 1.4301 (EN) under dry sliding condition

► Dry sliding induces the edge dislocations decorated by vacancies below worn surface of the SS. ► Their concentration decreases with the depth increase linearly and/or exponentially. ► Total depth of the subsurface zone induced by dry sliding is ranged from 85 μm to 400 μm. ► At depth of about 5 μm below the worn surface the significant increase in the microhardness is observed.