Material Science and Metallurgy

14

Wear of Materials

14.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter explains the basics of friction and wear. The term ‘tribology’ stands for the ‘study of friction, wear and lubrication’. From the beginning of civilization, people are confronted with the good and bad effects of friction between two contacting surfaces having relative sliding motion. Invention of a wheel brought relief by converting sliding friction into rolling friction, and rolling friction on any object is much less than the sliding friction.

Best example of friction and wear is an automobile, in which friction between tyre and road is necessary for the starting and stopping motion of the automobile, while friction in moving parts of the engine is responsible for loss of power and wear ...