A Numerical–Experimental Study of Wear Resistance of FeB/Fe2B Systems

In this study, the tribological performance of two FeB/Fe2B systems formed at the surface of an AISI 316L stainless steel was evaluated experimentally as well as numerically using the configuration rotatory pin-on-disk test, without lubricant and using a ball as a counterpart. The wear tests were carried out along a circular path under two applied loads of 5 and 10 N and a constant sliding distance. The wear coefficient was obtained by Archard’s model. Experimental results of the wear test exhibited that the FeB/Fe2B system with the thinner thickness developed more severe wear. The principal stresses and the maximum shear stress at the beginning and at the end of the pin-on-disk test were assessed by means of the finite element method. Mesh nonlinear adaptivity was used in the numerical model of the pin-on-disk test to fix mesh distortion caused by the surface wear. As the pin-on-disk test progressed and the material was removed, it caused a non-uniform contact pressure on the contact zone, which generated high stress at small areas of boride layers.