Effect of Martensite Volume Fraction on Oxidative and Adhesive Wear

It is generally known that microstructure can considerably affect the tribological behavior of non-lubricated rubbing. However, there is still a lack of awareness about the effect of microstructure on oxidative wear. The present study focused on the effect of martensite volume fraction (MVF) on oxidative wear by using 25CD4 dual-phase steel. Dry friction tests were performed on a ball-on-flat tribometer with a normal load of 15 N and a mean sliding velocity of 0.013 m/s. Friction coefficient and wear rate increase with the increasing MVF. SEM observation and EDXS analyses of the wear scars showed that the oxidation increases with decreasing MVF. For lower MVF, the main wear mechanism is mild oxidative wear. For higher MVF, severe adhesion is predominant as a wear mechanism. The size of the debris decreases with decreasing MVF.