Response of Materials During Sliding on Various Surface Textures

In the present investigation, basic studies were conducted using Inclined pin-on-plate sliding Tester to understand the role of surface texture of hard material against soft materials during sliding. Soft materials such as Al-Mg alloy, pure Al and pure Mg were used as pins and 080 M40 steel was used as plate in the tests. Two surface parameters of steel plates — roughness and texture — were varied in tests. It was observed that the transfer layer formation and the coefficient of friction which has two components, namely adhesion and plowing component, are controlled by the surface texture of harder material. For the case of Al-Mg alloy, stick-slip phenomenon was absent under both dry and lubricated conditions. However, for the case of Al, it was observed only under lubricated conditions while for the case of Mg, it was observed under both dry and lubricated conditions. Further, it was observed that the amplitude of stick-slip motion primarily depends on plowing component of friction. The plowing component of friction was highest for the surface that promotes plane strain conditions near the surface and was lowest for the surface that promotes plane stress conditions near the surface.