Effect of surface topography on transferred film formation in plastic and metal sliding system

Abstract

Wear tests were performed with a pad-on-disk type apparatus using aramid fiber reinforced phenolic composite pads and gray cast iron and Ni–Cr–Mo steel disks. The effect of surface topography of metal disk on the film formation by transfer from plastic pads was investigated. The following results were obtained: (1) The roughness valleys across the sliding direction and the small pits on the disk surface accelerate the film formation of pad material on the disk. The transfer film reduces friction and wear of the pad. (2) The amount of Fe on the pads transferred from the cast iron disks is smaller than that from the Ni–Cr–Mo steel disks. (3) Under a low contact pressure (0.03 MPa) condition, the specific wear amount of pads sliding on the Ni–Cr–Mo steel disk is much smaller than that sliding on the cast iron disk. Surface roughness of pads sliding on Ni–Cr–Mo steel disk is smaller than that sliding on the cast iron disk.