FRETTING WEAR OF A HIGH-STRENGTH HEAVILY WORK-HARDENED EUTECTOID STEEL

This is the second paper in an informal series of three on the frettin g behaviour of a heavily work-hardened eutectoid steel wire, used in t he construction of locked coil steel ropes. The fretting behaviour of the wire, both in the service surface condition and after mechanical a brasion, is examined. Residual solid die lubricant, from the wire draw ing manufacturing process, present both on the surface of the wire and as a reservoir in the drawing marks is determined to play an importan t role in the fretting behaviour. In particular, it is capable of main taining the coefficient of friction at a low value, at least during th e early stages of fretting.