Influence of Ni Content on Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Sintered and Carburized Steels

The dry sliding wear behavior of two sintered and carburized steels with different Ni amounts has been investigated. The microstructure of the two steels comprises martensite, bainite, and the Ni-rich austenite. Under the sliding conditions investigated, wear is either oxidative or adhesive. In both cases, the lower amount of the soft Ni-rich austenite results in a better wear resistance. A design procedure for parts subject to dry sliding wear applications is proposed, based on the maximum acceptable wear depth, in order to evaluate the practical significance of the differences between the two materials.