Tribological Behavior and Surface Characterization of Gray Cast Iron-EN31 Steel under Lubricated Sliding Conditions

Abstract

This research investigates the tribological behavior of gray cast iron against EN31 steel under lubricated conditions. The most typical lubricated sliding phenomena are the reduction of wear on both the sliding surfaces and any one of the critical surfaces. Static and hydrodynamic wear can be reduced based on fluid properties or the accessibility of fluid between the surfaces. The oil’s viscosity or content of the hydrocarbon and additives present in the oil plays a major role in controlling the wear of reciprocating surfaces. Therefore, this research work focused on metal-to-metal contact wear under the influence of lubricating oil (40 pride oil). The Taguchi method was used to select the sliding parameter combinations. Lubricated sliding resulted in a relatively reduced order of friction coefficient, attributable to better load distribution due to the formation of the lubricant film.