Tribological Characterization of Centrifugally Cast Graphite Cast Iron under Dry and Wet conditions

Abstract

The study is concerned with wear behaviour of centrifugally cast flake graphite iron, spheroidal graphite iron and compacted graphite iron in both dry and wet conditions. The test was conducted according to the ASTM G99 standards, to investigate the wear behaviour in dry and wet conditions by keeping time and sliding speed as constants but for varying loads. The graphite iron classified as flake graphite cast iron, spheroidal graphite cast iron, and compacted graphite cast iron depending upon the shape and distribution of graphite particles in the metal matrix. The variations of the co-efficient of friction and wear rate were experimentally measured. From the experimental results, the following things became clear. Initially the co-efficient of friction varies and later it converges to a certain value because of the debris, the debris grows and comes between the pin and disc surfaces. From the result it is clear that SGI has the highest wear in both dry and wet conditions. The graphite acts as an inherent lubricant for cast iron automatically coming in between the pin and disc surface and along with external lubrication it was found to decrease the co-efficient of friction by 10 times.