Wear of a stainless steel in pressurised high temperature water

The wear behaviour of an austenitic stainless steel is analysed using a tri bometer working in pressurised high temperature water (PHTW). The precise c ontact conditions, low pressure impact and sliding contacts, play an import ant role on the surface wear in this corrosive medium. The tests which incl ude both impact and sliding are the most severe. The friction films formed during these tests are compared with those obtained with pure oxidation. It is shown that these films participate in the formation of elongated 'inden ts' observed on the surfaces. Nano-indentation measurements consolidate thi s hypothesis. (C) 2001 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medi cales Elsevier SAS.