Angle resolved scattering as a tribological investigation tool for surface characterization

• Published in: Wear 2015-03, Vol.326-327, p.58-67
• Main Authors: Azouigui, S., Silvestri, Z., Zerrouki, C., Bouhtiyya, S., Plimmer, M.D., Spaltmann, D., Kovalev, A., Woydt, M., Pinot, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angle-resolved scattering; Automotive engineering; Chromium steels; Isotropy; Oscillations; Physics; Roughness; Scattering; Surface roughness; Wear; Wear tests
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2014.12.040

This paper shows how Angle-Resolved Scattering can reveal wear on engineered surfaces. The samples studied, three discs made of steel 100Cr6H used in gear wheels in the automotive industry, were assessed after they had undergone ball-on-disc tests. Scattering maps recorded for spatial frequencies from 0.1µm−1 to 2.7µm−1 show a contrast inversion around 0.36µm−1 revealing the wear trace. Besides measurements of rms roughness, where mean values are 20nm and 24nm depending on the locations considered, stationarity and isotropy, we demonstrate the ability of the technique to reveal localized wear on this type of surface in a rapid, robust and convenient way. We show that the tool trace is influenced by the load magnitude rather than by the number of oscillation cycles and highlight the key role played by surface roughness in how the sample responds to wear tests. •ARS device that allows rapid, robust wear detection on tribological surfaces.•The worn area is shown, quite surprisingly, to exhibit only very weak anisotropy.•The measured roughness was significantly different between worn and unworn areas.•The damaging process was characterized by a critical frequency of 0.36µm−1.•Measurements show the tool trace is influenced mainly by the load magnitude.