Friction Coefficient and Wear Rate of Different Materials Sliding Against Stainless Steel

This paper examines the relation between friction/wear and different types of steel materials under different normal loads and sliding velocities and to explore the possibility of adding controlled normal load and sliding velocity to a mechanical process. In order to do so, a pin on disc apparatus is designed and fabricated. Experiments are carried out when different types of disc materials such as stainless steel 304 (SS 304), stainless steel 316 (SS 316) and mild steel slide against stainless steel 304 (SS 304) pin. Variations of friction coefficient with the duration of rubbing at different normal loads and sliding velocities are investigated. Results show that friction coefficient varies with duration of rubbing, normal load and sliding velocity. In general, friction coefficient increases for a certain duration of rubbing and after that it remains constant for the rest of the experimental time. The obtained results reveal that friction coefficient decreases with the increase in normal load for all the tested materials. It is also found that friction coefficient increases with the increase in sliding velocity for all the materials investigated. Moreover, wear rate increases with the increase in normal load and sliding velocity. At identical operating condition, the magnitudes of friction coefficient and wear rate are different for different materials depending on sliding velocity and normal load.