Studies on Friction in an Iron-Steel Tribo-System Under Dry and Lubricated Conditions

Surface texture influences friction during sliding. In the present investigation, various kinds of surface texture with varying roughness were produced on steel plates. Pins made of pure iron were then slid against the prepared steel plates using an inclined pin-on-plate sliding tester to understand the role of surface texture on coefficient of friction under both dry and lubricated conditions. The contact surfaces of both the pins and plates were observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Surface textures of steel plates were characterized in terms roughness parameters using an optical profilometer. The data analysis showed that the coefficient of friction depends on the surface texture of the harder counterface under both dry and lubricated conditions. Further, a transfer layer of pure iron did not form on the steel plate surface. In addition, it was observed that the soft iron pin scratches the harder steel surface, and hence the coefficient of friction was observed to be independent of surface roughness parameters.