Experimental Investigation of Surface Wear and Induced Damage Evaluation under Dry Sliding Conditions in Medium Carbon Steel

Abstract

This study examines dry sliding wear in untreated AISI 1038 and AISI 1045 steels, using hardened AISI 1055 steel as the counterpart. Pin-on-disc tests were run at a constant sliding speed of 0.5 m/s under loads ranging from 5 to 40 N. SEM and EDS analyses were used to identify surface damage and the mechanisms behind it. heat treatment, however, markedly improved resistance by raising hardness. AISI 1045 performed best, showing the smallest wear loss because of its tempered martensitic structure. The microscopy and compositional analyses indicated that low loads mainly produced abrasive wear, while higher loads brought adhesive, oxidative, and delamination wear. Protective oxide films formed on the rubbing surfaces and limited direct metal-to-metal contact. Overall, the findings link the improved dry-sliding performance of these medium-carbon steels to both greater hardness and the microstructural changes produced by heat treatment.