TRIBOLOGICAL STABILITY OF METALLIC MATERIALS AT ELEVATED-TEMPERATURES

The sliding abrasion wear rates of metallic materials against flint, m easured between 25 and 1050-degrees-C under an argon atmosphere, are s hown and discussed. Above 550-degrees-C, wear is governed mainly by th e properties of the metal matrix and can be correlated with its resist ance to plastic deformation. Thus, the bot hardness and work hardening capability affect the wear rate under stationary conditions. Instabil ities occur when dynamic recrystallization appears within the metal ma trix, bringing about a total loss of its work hardening capability. Ha rd phases have only a small effect on the tribological behaviour under stationary and non-stationary conditions.