Studies on Friction and Transfer Layer Formation When Pure Magnesium Pins Slid at Various Numbers of Cycles on Steel Plates of Different Surface Texture

In the present investigation, various kinds of textures (undirectional, 8-ground, and random,) were attained on a set of steel plate surfaces. The roughness of the textures was varied using different grits of emery papers or polishing powders. Pins made of pure magnesium were then slid against the steel plates at various numbers of cycles (1, 2, 6, 10 and 20) using an inclined pin-on-plate sliding apparatus. In the experiments, it was observed that the coefficient of friction and the formation of a transfer layer depended on the die surface textures under both dry and lubricated conditions. The coefficient of friction increased with number of cycles under dry conditions for all of the textures studied. Under lubricated conditions, however, the coefficient of friction decreased for unidirectional and 8-ground surfaces and increased for random surfaces with the number of cycles. A stick-slip phenomenon was observed under both dry and lubricated conditions. Occurrence of the stick slip behavior depended on the surface texture, the load and the number of cycles. The variation in the coefficient of friction under both dry and lubrication conditions was attributed to changes in the texture of the surfaces during sliding.