Abrasive Wear Mechanisms of S235JR, S355J2, C45, AISI 304, and Hardox 500 Steels Tested Using Garnet, Corundum and Carborundum Abrasives

Wear resistance is one of the main indicators of the reliability of machine parts. The selection of wear-resistant material should consider the operational environment and specific types of abrasive material. The steel abrasive wear resistance depends not only on its hardness and microstructure but also on the abrasive material's properties, such as hardness and particle morphology. This work aimed to determine abrasion wear mechanisms of a set of steels, i.e., S235, S355, C45, AISI 304 and Hardox 500, abraded by different types of grit i.e. garnet, corundum and carborundum. The abrasion tests were conducted using T-07 tribometer (rubber wheel method). Wear traces were examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and a contact profilometer. SEM analysis revealed that apart from Hardox 500, ploughing and microfatigue were the dominant wear mechanisms. Microcutting was the main wear mechanism for Hardox 500 tested with carborundum (SiC). The highest mass loss was usually obtained for carborundum. The lowest wear resistance in garnet and carborundum was obtained for the S235JR and S235J2 steels and Hardox 500 tested with corundum. The effect of steel microstructure on the wear mechanism has been confirmed. AISI 304 austenitic steel abraded by carborundum grit, presented outstanding roughness parameters: Ra, Rz, RSm, Rk, Rvk and Rpk than other steels tested with carborundum. Steel hardness affects the morphology of the wear trace reducing the Ra and Rz roughness parameters. The effect of abrasive hardness and grain morphology on abraded surfaces has been stated. Contrary to fine grains of the hardest carborundum, coarse garnet grains caused high roughness parameters (Rk, Rpk and Rvk) determined in wear trace.