Friction and wear of [formula omitted] brass during fretting corrosion under various environmental conditions

Abstract

An investigation was performed to determine the influence of water vapour, oxygen and water in various environments on the friction and wear of a 60 40 brass in contact with itself during fretting corrosion. A cylinder- against-flat type of fretting test rig was used and fretting experiments were carried out in various environments: wet air of various humidity levels, dry air, wet argon, dry argon and ion-exchanged water. In this study, a larger amplitude of relative slip was used to expose sufficiently the fretting surfaces to the surrounding environment. Oxygen, water vapour and water reduced the coefficient of friction during fretting. Wear debris showed a tendency to egress from the contact area with the increasing content of water vapour in air. Thus the wear rates increased with absolute humidity along the same curve at three room temperatures. When oxygen or water vapour existed alone in the environment, the effect of oxygen on wear was greater than that of water vapour. When both oxygen and water vapour existed simultaneously in the environment, as in wet air, the combined effect of them on wear was observed resulting in a marked increase in wear rate.