An HREM study of the nanocrystalline material produced by sliding wear processes

• Published in: Scripta metallurgica et materialia 1990-09, Vol.24 (9), p.1675-1678
• Main Authors: Ganapathi, S.K., Rigney, D.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0956-716X
• DOI: 10.1016/0956-716X(90)90526-M

Characterization of the nanocrystalline microstructures may provide insight into the mechanism of material removal as wear debris and the nature of the processes occuring during sliding wear. High resolution electron microscopy (HREM) on the grain boundary structure of normal polycrystalline Cu reveals an absence of a highly disordered region at the interfaces of the nanocrystalline materials produced by wear. A review covers the differences in the nature of generation of nanocrystalline material in the two processes of sliding wear and inert gas condensation. Sliding wear tests were carried out using the ring-on-block configuration. The ring material was 440C martensitic stainless steel and the block was annealed OFHC Cu. The sliding speed was 5 cm/s, the load applied was 34 kg, and prepurified Ar gas was bled into the chamber as to maintain the relative humidity at 30-32%. The tests were of different durations and lasted from 4-48 h. After the test, the surface of the specimen was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The wear debris and the wear surface were examined by HREM. Photomicrographs. 11 ref.--A.R.