Sliding experiments of steels in gaseous hydrogen

An exploratory study of friction and wear of steels and iron in hydrogen are made. A new experimental rig is developed to conduct three balls on disk type tests in hydrogen, with or without lubrication. Sliding tests are conducted with several different materials including carbon steel, austenitic stainless steel and hardened bearing steel, in hydrogen, nitrogen and air. Mineral base oils are used as lubricants. Experimental results demonstrate that effects of hydrogen are not straightforward but depend on combination of the ball and disk materials. Austenitic steels exhibit higher friction and wear in hydrogen than in nitrogen and air. Hardened bearing steel, which is used as a ball specimen material throughout the tests, shows higher friction and wear in air, which has presumably affected friction and wear of counterpart materials.