Sliding wear and friction behaviour of WC‐stainless steel and WC–Co composites

Abstract The sliding wear and friction behaviour of new developed WC ‐ stainless steel composites without and with carbon addition were evaluated using a linearly reciprocating sliding tribometer under ball‐on‐flat configuration, sliding against an alumina ball under unlubricated conditions. The wear of both, discs and ball were measured for different applied loads, sliding distances and frequencies. Worn surfaces were investigated by using microscopy and topography techniques. Comparative experiments were performed using flat samples of a conventional WC–Co composite. It was found that the WC–Co grade displayed an undoubtedly better sliding wear resistance and lower coefficient of friction if compared with the newly produced WC‐SS composites.