Wear debris analyses of Nimonic 263 under high temperature fretting condition

Nimonic 263, a gamma-prime strengthened nickel superalloy is normally used in severe environments like in most gas turbines. A continuous movement between the combustor components in gas turbines often leads to a fretting problem, which is one of the main wear modes for high-temperature environments. As the materials are exposed to severe conditions, it is worth studying the wear characteristics of this superalloy at high temperatures. The formations of wear debris during the fretting process have significant roles that affect the wear profiles as well as to determine the wear mechanisms. A laboratory simulated fretting wear test was carried out at six different temperatures ranging between 25 degrees C - 900 degrees C with a frequency of 5 Hz, and a stroke length of 2 mm. As the fretting wear formed due to the relative movement of the materials (under vibration) and high temperatures at 900 degrees C, the size of the fretted surfaces was changed into wear scars with 10 - 30 % of oxidised debris. In short, the debris analysis indicated that small-sized of mild-oxidised metallic roll-like debris were mostly found at low temperatures, than that of at high temperatures.