Prow formation in the wear of cast iron

Abstract

A pin-on-ring specimen configuration has been used to examine the formation of strain-hardened projections or “prows” on the steel ring countersurface during the wear of the cast iron pin specimen. The prows were initiated early in the wear process and metallographic evidence indicates that, on continued rotation of the ring, the individual prows acted as a series of micromachining points. Measurements of wear rate have established the equilibrium nature of this severe form of wear and comparisons have been made with wear rates obtained under non-prow-forming conditions. The initiation of prows occurred above a critical mild-to-severe transition load and the conditions of sliding speed and countersurface hardness which resulted in the regime of prow formation were examined.