Abstract
The effect of silver particle introduction on the rolling friction of AISI 52100 steel pairs has been investigated. Experiments ware performed in dry conditions using a thrust bearing-type rolling test rig at a load range of 12-960 N and a sliding velocity range of 8-785 mm/sec with pure (99.99%) silver particles. Results showed that introduced silver particles formed transfer layers, which protected the virgin bearing surfaces and resulted in the low lolling friction. By changing the quantity of silver particles, transitions in the rolling friction were found. Results also showed that the variations in normal load and rolling speed also affected the rolling friction behavior. Analyses of SEM and EPMA showed that the formation the transfer layer was mainly governed by the silver particle quantity, normal load and rolling speed, and this resulted in the different behavior of rolling friction. In this study, it was found that the low and stable rolling friction was resulted from the, shakedown phenomena occurred at the silver transfer layer.