A direct comparison of wet and dry abrasion behaviour of mild steel

A rubber wheel type test apparatus has been constructed which allows abrasi on testing to be conducted in wet or dry environments in otherwise identica l conditions. It has been shown that the environment is a significant param eter in the abrasive wear rate of mild steel with alumina and silica abrada nts over a range of loads and particle sizes. The wear rate is significantl y (in some cases, orders of magnitude) less in wet conditions than in the d ry, with the greatest differences being observed for small and/or rounded a brasives. Wear in dry conditions occurred predominantly by a three-body mec hanism, whilst wear in wet conditions occurred mainly by a two-body mechani sm. The water may affect the wear test in a number of ways, but it is propo sed that it is its role as a lubricant which is most significant. Since wea r rates and mechanisms are so dependent on the test environment, care needs to be exercised in choosing the correct test type to simulate service cond itions. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.