The oxidation reaction during sliding wear influencing the formation of either amorphous or nanocrystalline debris

The microstructure of wear debris originating in sliding tests from pure me tals which form stable metal oxides with the rutile structure (like: mangan ese, tin and titanium)has been investigated by analytical TEM. The influenc e of the oxidation reaction on the formation of either amorphous or nanocry stalline debris was studied. Data on wear debris generated on manganese and tin are presented and compared with observations on debris from pure titan ium. These observations support the thesis that:the debris structure is dep ending on the oxidation kinetics. Evidence is given for the crystallization of amorphous debris due to continuous oxidation during wear. (C) 1999 Else vier Science S.A. All rights reserved.