Experimental investigation of the tribological behaviour of carbon and low-alloy steels sliding against HSS

Laboratory of Mechanics, Modeling and Production (LA2MP), National Engineering School of Sfax, University of Sfax, Route Soukra km 3.5, B.P 1173, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia

^a Corresponding author: riadh.autay@enis.rnu.tn

Received: 29 June 2014
Accepted: 18 September 2014

Abstract

ISO 42CrMo4 low-alloy steel and ISO C45 carbon steel are commonly used in the manufacture of mechanical parts, which are continuously subjected to friction and wear. The effect of microstructure changes during functioning on the tribological behaviour of these steels was evaluated under unlubricated and reciprocating sliding conditions. The diverse microstructures are obtained by varying the heat treatment conditions. The mechanical behaviour of the diverse obtained microstructures was investigated via hardness measurements and tensile tests. Results showed that there is no correlation between friction properties and mechanical ones. Wear properties depend on hardness but no correlation is obtained between wear properties and work hardening ones. Increasing normal load decreased friction properties but increased wear properties.