Use of positron annihilation measurements to detect the defect beneath worn surface of stainless steel 1.4301 (EN) under dry sliding condition

Positron measurements were performed for detection of the subsurface zone in the stainless steel 1.4301 (EN) exposed to dry sliding. They revealed the defect profile induced by dry sliding which is extended inward the worn surface from 85 μm to 400 μm depending on the applied load during the tribo-test. This result was obtained using the positron techniques, while the microhardness profile exhibited shorter range of the microhardness depth profile, i.e., from 70 μm to 150 μm. However, at the depth of about 5 μm from the worn surface the sudden increase in the microhardness was observed. The complementary measurements of X-ray diffraction and SEM micrographs of the worn surface were also performed.