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Influence of Cu Grain Size on Running-in Related Phenomena

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Abstract

We used a single-asperity microscopic tribosystem diamond sphere/Cu sheet to investigate the relevant phenomena affecting the dynamics of friction and wear in a macroscopic system. The influence of the average grain size of the softer of two tribopartners on friction and wear was investigated in particular. The observed tribosystem experienced a natural transition during the running time, from severe plastic flow to predominating boundary lubrication. This fact was used to study the influence of poly-α-olefine base oil and fully formulated engine oil Fuchs Titan SAE 5W45 on friction and wear during severe deformation and the boundary lubrication regime. It is shown that the initial grain size has a crucial influence on wear and friction only during first sliding interactions. During the initial sliding, the grain size rapidly decreases due to plastic deformation. The grains then become uniformly equal in size in every initial situation after approximately 30 cycles. Initially larger grains result in increased friction and wear as well as higher sensitivity to the kind of lubrication.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to T. Ditz from the Institut für Materialforschung IMF II, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, for the measurement of hardness and Young’s modulus profiles of Cu samples. We also thank L. Echtle for help in preparing the Cu samples, and acknowledge M. H. Müser for very helpful discussion.

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Author notes

  1. D. Shakhvorostov

    Present address: Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B7

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IAVF Antriebstechnik AG, Im Schlehert 32, D-76187, Karlsruhe, Germany

    D. Shakhvorostov & M. Scherge

  2. Wuhan Research Institute of Materials Protection CAMST, 126 Bao Feng Erlu, Wuhan, China

    L. Jian

  3. Institut für Materialforschung IMF I, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

    E. Nold

  4. Institut für Technische Chemie ITC-TAB, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

    G. Beuchle

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  1. D. Shakhvorostov
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  2. L. Jian
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  3. E. Nold
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  4. G. Beuchle
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  5. M. Scherge
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Correspondence to D. Shakhvorostov.

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Shakhvorostov, D., Jian, L., Nold, E. et al. Influence of Cu Grain Size on Running-in Related Phenomena. Tribol Lett 28, 307–318 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-007-9274-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-007-9274-1

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