Studies of Simultaneous Friction and Corrosive Processes in the Presence of Abrasive Particles

Providing high-quality machinery and equipment in technical terms is an activity aimed primarily at ensuring the high reliability of nodes. Reliability of machinery and equipment is mainly characterized by resistance to destructive processes. Mutual displacement of parts causes destructive friction phenomena, the intensity of which can be intensified by the interaction of specific technological environments. The article presents the results of research on ring-on-ring samples made of C45 steel in the non-heat-treated state, which were subjected to mechanical, corrosive, and abrasive wear and various combinations of them. The main purpose of the study was to determine the wear that results from the action of destructive friction and corrosive processes with the presence of abrasive material in the tribological node. The results supplement the knowledge of material wear under the simultaneous action of several destructive factors. Based on the study, it was noticed that the sum component of mechanical–abrasive–corrosive interactions is about 40–50% of the total wear. Mass loss resulting from simultaneous mechanical and abrasive interactions is equal about one-third of the total wear. In addition, it was observed that the effects of the interactions of friction (mechanical), corrosive and abrasive excitations are synergistic in nature, which lead to increases in the total wear of the tested samples made of steel. The results of the research are of practical importance and allow for wear-optimal selection of material in the friction node of modern machinery and equipment.