Dry sliding wear behavior of molybdenum alloyed sintered steels

Powder metallurgy (PM) steels of the composition Fe-3.5% Mo-1.0% C were pre pared by pressing and sintering, and the wear behavior of the steels was in vestigated. Through wear test combined with SEM surface analysis and metall urgical analysis of the specimens showed that the wear behavior of these st eels depends on the PM processing parameters and the heat treatment as well as on the wear conditions. Specimens quenched and tempered at 500 degrees C have high wear coefficient compared with specimens as-sintered. At slidin g speeds of 1 to 5 m s(-1) and normal loads of 10 to 30 N, the PM steels ha ve low and stable wear rate. The wear mechanisms are oxidation wear, adhesi ve wear, abrasive wear and melt wear depending on the wear conditions. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.