Wear maps for low temperature carburised 316L austenitic stainless steel sliding against alumina

Wear maps illustrating the tribological benefits imparted to interstitially hardened austenitic stainless steels carburised at low temperatures and sliding against alumina were developed using pin-on-disk wear tests. Low temperature carburisation enables the use of austenitic stainless steel grade 316L under applied loads and sliding speeds that would usually be considered far too severe for this alloy. Comparisons of wear volume, wear debris and wear scars produced by sliding under various speeds and applied loads showed that low temperature carburisation of 316L stainless steel extends the mild wear regime and prevents the severe wear under harsh test conditions observed in non-treated grades of this steel.