Effect of High-Density Electric Current on Wear and Average Temperature of Steel/Steel Triboelectric Contact

Abstract

In this paper, we presented studies of the sliding friction without lubrication of Hadfield steel, ShKh15 bearing steel, and AISI steel 1020 against AISI steel 1045 upon applying an electric current with a contact density higher 100 A/cm². We showed that the intensity of the surface layer deterioration increased with increasing current density. The catastrophic wear of materials begins at different values of the current density and at close values of the wear energy intensity. The dependences of the average contact temperatures on the current have been determined. The major conclusion is that it is impractical to harden the primary structure by alloys to achieve a low wear rate.