The influence of magnetic field on wear in sliding contacts

Abstract

The influence of the horizontal magnetic field has not been sufficiently studied in contrast to study activity on the influence of the vertical magnetic field by researchers. The reason was that the influence of horizontal magnetic field to change the wear mass loss of ferromagnetic materials is smaller compared to the vertical magnetic field. However, the influence of horizontal magnetic field on rolling contact changes the subsurface crack initiation point toward surface is postulated by a researcher. Therefore, it is significance finding out how the horizontal magnetic field influences the tribological characteristics. This thesis presents a study on the influence of the horizontal magnetic field on wear in sliding contacts contributes for ascertainment the effect and mechanism of horizontal magnetic field on tribological characteristics of sliding contacts, through the experimental approach.The static magnetic field with densities of 0 and 1.1 Tesla and different orientations was applied to different contact conditions, different surface modifications and two sliding frequencies, using a ball-on-plate contact configuration. In conclusion, the presence of magnetic field enhances the chemical adsorption between iron or oxide iron and oxygen, and causes the transition of adhesive wear to oxidative wear. Besides, the presence of magnetic field combined with low sliding frequency forms the bulging on the wear surface and weakens the prevailing wear mechanism due to the low frictional temperature. On the other hand, the presence of magnetic field combined with high sliding frequency induces the transition to the oxidative wear mechanism and reduces the wear. Also, distinctly different appearances of wear surface are created by different magnetic field orientations. In the lubricated sliding contact, the magnetic field causes the reduction of wear and induction of oxide. It is postulated that the presence of magnetic field enhances the oxygen adsorption on the wear track by iron wear particles and hence varies the tribological behaviour. The influence of magnetic field on carbon steel coating consists in changes of oxide iron layer and steel layer, alterations of mechanical properties of the coating, and decrease in the mass loss and the surface roughness on the dry sliding contact. All these could be suggested the influence of adhesive strength of the interface between the base material and coating.