ABRASIVE WEAR OF STEELS AGAINST SILICA-FILLED EPOXY-RESINS UNDER COMBINED ROLLING AND SLIDING MOTION

The abrasive wear of carburized and uncarburized low-alloy steels has been studied under conditions of combined rolling and sliding motion a gainst a range of composite counterfaces containing a high proportion of silica particles in an epoxy resin binder. The system simulates som e aspects of abrasion by natural rocks. The wear rates of the steels d epended strongly on the compressive strengths of the composites: incre asing the strength of the composite reduced the wear rate of the steel . The extent of sliding motion had little effect on the wear rates per unit sliding distance. The wear rates of the composites also varied w idely, and depended not only on their bulk strength but also on the po rosity level and filler/matrix bond strength. Removal of material from the composite counterface, leading to the exposure of fresh abrasive particles, occurred more readily for the weaker composites and led to the higher wear rate of the steel. On the stronger composites an accum ulation of metallic debris contributed to reduced wear rate in the ste el. The mechanisms and rates of degradation of the composites were ver y important in determining the abrasive wear rates of the steel specim ens.