The characterization of wear transitions in sliding wear process contaminated with silica and iron powder

• Published in: Tribology international Vol. 38; no. 2; pp. 129 - 143
• Main Authors: Yuan, C.Q., Peng, Z., Zhou, X.C., Yan, X.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Friction, wear, lubrication; Iron powder; Machine components; Machine condition monitoring; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Silica; Wear; Wear debris analysis; Wear debris analysis; Iron powder; Machine condition monitoring; Silica; Wear; Wear particle; Third body; Confocal microscopy; Iron; Surface analysis; Modeling; Mining; Scanning microscope; Wear transition; Ferrography; Mine; Mining industry; Pin disk test; Monitoring; Solid lubricant; Sliding wear; Wear test; Powder metallurgy; Surface melting; Surveillance; Two body system; Nickel; Laser fusion; Contaminant; Tribology
• ISSN: 0301-679X; 1879-2464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2004.06.007

When a machine is in operation, two moving surfaces interact to generate a large amount of wear particles. The wear debris generated inside the machine or contaminants from outside plays important roles in both two-body and three-body wear. For all mining and port machinery, their lubricants are very likely to be polluted by contaminants such as silica and other metallic debris such as iron and nickel. In order to seek a deeper understanding of the effects of different contaminants on wear process, this project investigated sliding wear processes when silica powder and iron powder exist in lubricants. Four sliding wear tests were conducted on a pin-on-disc tester with and without the contaminants. Visual inspection, ferrography analysis, particle quantity analysis using a particle analyzer, and numerical surface analysis using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were conducted to study the wear particles and wear surfaces. Supported by the data generated from the comprehensive analyses on the wear particles and wear surfaces, the investigation of the effects of the added contaminants to the wear processes and wear mechanisms have been carried out and presented in this paper.