Microstructural evolution during scuffing of hardened 4340 steel—implication for scuffing mechanism

Microstructural changes occurring during scuffing failure in hardened 4340 steel were studied with a block-on-ring test rig using a step-loading test protocol. Tests were interrupted before, during, and after scuffing. Both surface and sub-surface changes in the original tempered microstructure were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tribology international 2005-03, Vol.38 (3), p.277-282
Main Authors: Ajayi, O.O., Hersberger, J.G., Zhang, J., Yoon, H., Fenske, G.R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Exact sciences and technology
Friction, wear, lubrication
Machine components
Mechanical engineering. Machine design
Microstructure
Plastic deformation
Scuffing
SEM
Shear instability
Sliding surfaces
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Summary:Microstructural changes occurring during scuffing failure in hardened 4340 steel were studied with a block-on-ring test rig using a step-loading test protocol. Tests were interrupted before, during, and after scuffing. Both surface and sub-surface changes in the original tempered microstructure were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Results of our study showed that scuffing occurred by severe and sudden plastic deformation of near-surface material in a sub-second time frame. Based on this observation and other previously observed microstructural changes, i.e. formation of a large fraction of retained austenite during scuffing, a scuffing mechanism based on adiabatic shear instability is proposed. The proposed scuffing mechanism can effectively explain most of the phenomenological observations associated with scuffing failure.
ISSN:0301-679X
1879-2464
DOI:10.1016/j.triboint.2004.08.011