Variations in the Contact Layer Structure of Low-Carbon Steel in Sliding Against a Steel Counterbody with Different Nominal Contact Areas Under a High-Density Electric Current

The changes in the wear and contact structure of steel specimens are determined in dry sliding against steel under an alternating electric current at different values of the nominal contact area. It is shown that the wear rate decreases with the contact area. The formation of transfer layers (tribolayers) on the contact surfaces containing FeO and alpha-Fe is observed. The plastic deformation of these tribolayers is accompanied by the formation of morphology consisting of two sectors on the sliding surface. One of them has traces of a viscous liquid. It is hypothesized that this factor contributes to a rapid stress relaxation in the tribolayer, followed by a corresponding wear intensity decrease.

Automated summary

The relationship between wear rate and contact area was determined by conducting dry sliding tests on steel specimens with alternating electric current. The formation of transfer layers and plastic deformation of the tribolayers were observed.