Wear of water lubricated silicon nitride in ball on disc test

Abstract

The ball on disc test configuration is preferred to the flat ended pin on disc because the ball is self-aligned and measurement of wear on the ball is of higher accuracy, compared to the pin. Silicon nitride, sliding on itself in water, was tested with the ball on disc tribometer. Misalignment of the test ball from its proper position behind the disc axis of rotation leads to friction measurement errors, which were analysed. The disc wears non-uniformly, the wear track depth and width vary in longitudinal direction by a factor of 2–3. The uneven wear of the disc is explained by the combined effects of sliding surface anisotropy and disc material non-homogeneity on the one hand and by the friction force and the normal load periodic variation on the other hand. During the running-in process at particular sliding velocity amplitude modulated friction force was observed and an explanation by the mechanical vibration ‘beating’ phenomenon was suggested. Predictive model of the running-in process is presented, which describes the evolution of the ball wear scar area, the contact pressure and the wear rate. The model predictions are consistent with the experimental data.