Study on the rolling friction and wear properties of surface densified powder metallurgy Fe-2Cu-0.6C material

Rolling friction and wear behaviours of a surface densified Fe-2Cu-0.6C powder metallurgy material were investigated. Results indicated that friction coefficient and wear were significantly decreased after rolling. Wear rate tended to be steady as the rolling cycle increases. Under light load, wear was caused by delamination and ploughing. Delamination crack initiated on material surface. Under heavy load, wear was caused by delamination and pits. Cracks initiated at the surface and subsurface. However, due to the hardened surface layer and a lower porosity, probability of subsurface crack initiation was reduced and crack locations were closer to surface. Crack propagation distance also was shortened. The surface densified layer plays an important role in improving the rolling wear resistance of the material.