Steel Hardness Effects in Boundary Lubricated Sliding: An In-Situ SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) Study
Abstract
A pin-on cylinder test apparatus was used to perform low speed, steel-on-steel sliding experiments in-situ in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Through modifications to the SEM, these experiments could be run with a thin film of hydrocarbon oil applied to the sliding surface. Studies have been performed using AISI 4340 steel, both annealed and through hardened, for the pin and cylinder in combinations of soft (annealed)-versus-soft, hard-versus-soft and hard-versus-hard. All three material combinations show a progressive smoothing in the wear track as the number of sliding passes increases, plus agglomeration of wear debris interspersed with oil around the contact. Both of these effects lead to failure of the contacts due to insufficient lubrication. The combinations involving annealed steel fail catastrophically by an apparent third body abrasive mechanism while the failure of the hard versus hard combination involves intermittent plowing, resulting in more localized damage.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA206156
Entities
People
- S. J. Calabrese
- W. Holzhauer
Organizations
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute