Surface chemistry of wear scars

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The surface chemistry of the wear scars formed on Cu-3% Al alloy worn by a carburized steel ring have been studied by high-resolution scanning Auger electron spectroscopy. A FALEX-1 tester was used to perform the wear experiments. A number of conditions were studied including wear scars produced in an unlubricated air environment and wear scars produced using a 1% stearic acid dodecane lubricant. Iron was detected on the surface and in the near surface region of the lubricated and unlubricated specimens. Carbon and oxygen deposits a few tens of nanometers thick produced a mottled appearance on the lubricated wear scar. The iron transfer on the lubricated specimens was associated with the deposits, which were most likely a metallic soap. In addition to the iron, a larger concentration of aluminum was measured in the soap deposits. Iron was also detected on the dry wear scar. In this case, iron was not associated with any hydrocarbon deposits, but was randomly distributed throughout the wear scar. The iron concentration varied by more than an order of magnitude from one location to another and the iron Auger signal increased as the surface was removed by ion sputtering. The iron was probably in the form of very small particles incorporated into a Cu–Al ‘‘transfer layer.’’

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: