Friction and Wear Characteristics of Natural Iron Sand Coating

Abstract

Friction and wear characteristics of natural iron sand coating were experimentally examined in the absence of lubricant. The coefficient of friction was around 0.6 regardless of the sliding distance. The amount of coating worn away was very small at a nominal pressure of less than 3MPa. Two types of friction model were conjectured to interpret the friction and wear characteristics of iron sand coating. In both models, the fine iron sand particles, which were formed by tearing of rubbing surfaces, may play an important role. One model is explained by a ball bearing effect of fine particles. The other is a lubricant formation model ; the frictional heat turns the fine particles into a lubricating film of Fe2O3.