Gas Chemisorption onto Metal Surfaces during Adhesive Wear. Severe-Mild Wear Transition and Chemisorption Activity in the Rubbing between Iron and Itself.

Abstract

The chemisorption rates of oxygen and water molecules onto the severe and mild wear surfaces were measured during the rubbing between iron and iron. It became apparent that these chemisorption rates, and the desorption rate of hydrogen were increased in mild wear than in severe wear condition. The difference in chemisorption rate was due to the sticking probability being increased associated with the mild wear formation. The chemisorption of heavy water was also conducted. It was noted that the deuterium was not desorbed immediately with the chemisorption of water. This means that the desorbed hydrogen is not directly originated from the chemisorbed water molecule but originated from the formerly decomposed water molecule on the surface.