Taking Chinese-made (C-M42) and Japanese-made (J-M42) high-speed steel as research objects, the friction and wear tests were carried out and the wear mechanism was analysed. The microstructure and hardness of the two steels were observed by means of scanning electron microscope and hardness tester. Results show that J-M42 steel possesses a better wear resistance than C-M42 steel. This is related to relatively higher hardness, smaller average carbide size and higher volume fraction of carbide. There exists groove, adhesive patch and oxide layer in the worn surface. It manifests that the wear mechanisms of the two samples are adhesive wear, abrasive wear and slight oxidation wear. The overall surface roughness after wear is similar between the two steels whereas the plastic deformation layer in the vertical section of J-M42 steel is shallower than that of C-M42 steel.

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