Surface Integrity and Tribological Properties of Machined Surfaces

The surface integrity of a machined surface is an important factor that dictates several performance characteristics of a metal part. In this paper, the surface integrity aspects are presented specifically with respect to the tribological properties of steel. Test specimens were prepared under varying conditions to induce different levels of surface deformation and hardness. Sliding and rolling experiments were performed to assess the friction and wear characteristics of these specimens using a pinon-disk type tribotester and a plate-on-ball type set-up. It is reaffirmed that heat treated steels possess superior sliding and rolling fatigue resistance than raw steel. However, for the case of raw steels machined under varying conditions, the harder specimen resulted in higher wear. This result is attributed to the presence of surface cracks that were induced during machining. The results of such findings will aid in the optimization of surface preparation process for tribological applications of steel.