Deformation of the Sliding Surface of Structural Steel Under the Conditions of Sliding Current Collection

Abstract

Dry sliding of a model specimen of general-purpose steel against the hardened steel is studied under the action of electric current of a density higher than 250 A/cm 2 according to the shaft-shoe type scheme, namely in a pinon-ring test, where the specimen is presented as a pin. It is found out that this contact exhibits quite satisfactory wear resistance and electrical conduction. Using a laser confocal microscope, a morphological feature of the specimen sliding surface is revealed, which consists in the formation of two sectors. The sliding surface sector, directed from the opposite direction to the counterbody motion (front sector), is observed to deform and fracture due to the ploughing mechanism. Using an X-ray diffraction analysis, the formation of wustite, FeO, and FCC-iron is revealed in the specimen in friction.