Dry sliding wear of an induction-hardened, high-silicon medium-carbon microalloyed steel

Microalloyed (MA) medium carbon steels are promising materials as a replacement of quenched and tempered (Q-T) grades. The dry sliding behaviour of an induction hardened medium carbon MA steel, compared to Q-T steel, in the same surface hardening condition, was investigated. The MA steel showed a higher frictional stability and wear resistance than the Q-T steel. The transition from the mild oxidative wear regime to the severe adhesive wear regime occurred under more severe sliding condition for the MA steel. This can be ascribed the superior hardness of the bulk material and also to its higher tempering stability, induced by the strengthening precipitates, that enhance the load bearing capacity of the MA steel and hence the stability protective oxide layers.