EFFECT OF HARDNESS ON THE TRANSITION OF ABRASIVE WEAR MECHANISM OF STEELS.

Single-point scratch tests, using a semispherical pin specimen made of diamond on a flat specimen, were carried out in a scanning electron microscope. Five kinds of heat-treated bearing steels (SUJ 2) were used for the flat specimen. In-situ observations of wear processes in the scanning electron microscope show that abrasive wear mechanism changes from ploughing mode to wedge forming mode and then to cutting mode as the degree of penetration increases. Based on the observations, an abrasive wear diagram was obtained as a function of degree of penetration and hardness of the flat specimen.