The effects of particle characteristics on three-body abrasive wear

The effects of abrasive particle characteristics, especially shape and hard ness, on three-body abrasive wear of metallic samples have been investigate d. The experimental tests were carried out on a modified pin-on-disc tribom eter using dry abrasive particles and on a ball-on-plate tribometer using s lurry. Spike parameter quadratic fit (SPQ) was used in the characterization of particles angularity. Better correlation between wear rates and particl e angularity was found in ball-on-plate tests. The noted exception was quar tz that generated less wear in ah the tests than could be expected from its high SPQ value. Additional characteristics such as particle toughness, ori entation in the contact, and embedment in the worn surfaces affected the we ar results. Damage due to rolling (indentation) wear prevailed on the plate samples from ball-on-plate tests, whereas both sliding and rolling wear wa s found on the cylindrical samples from modified pin-on-disc tests. The mor phology of worn surfaces correlated well with the shapes of abrasive partic les. Rounded particles generated round craters and smooth grooves while ang ular particles produced sharp indents and narrow cutting grooves. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.