The effects of particle characteristics on three-body abrasive wear

The effects of abrasive particle characteristics, especially shape and hardness, on three-body abrasive wear of metallic samples have been investigated. The experimental tests were carried out on a modified pin-on-disc tribometer using dry abrasive particles and on a ball-on-plate tribometer using slurry. Spike parameter quadratic fit (SPQ) was used in the characterization of particles angularity. Better correlation between wear rates and particle angularity was found in ball-on-plate tests. The noted exception was quartz that generated less wear in all the tests than could be expected from its high SPQ value. Additional characteristics such as particle toughness, orientation in the contact, and embedment in the worn surfaces affected the wear results. Damage due to rolling (indentation) wear prevailed on the plate samples from ball-on-plate tests, whereas both sliding and rolling wear was found on the cylindrical samples from modified pin-on-disc tests. The morphology of worn surfaces correlated well with the shapes of abrasive particles. Rounded particles generated round craters and smooth grooves while angular particles produced sharp indents and narrow cutting grooves.