TECHNICAL RESOURCE
Methods of Surface Failure
Surface failure can develop through several different wear mechanisms depending on material properties, loading, friction, contamination, operating environment, and component design. Understanding how a surface is failing is an important first step in selecting the right material or surface treatment for the application.
WEAR MECHANISMS
Common Types of Surface Failure
Different wear mechanisms produce different patterns of material loss and surface damage. Explore each type below for a closer look at how these failures develop.
Adhesive Wear
Adhesive wear develops when contacting surfaces begin to gall, deform, and transfer material between one another. Increased heat and contact pressure can accelerate the process and lead to localized welding between surfaces.
Learn About Adhesive WearAbrasive Wear
Abrasive wear occurs when hard particles or raised surface features move against another surface and remove material through cutting, scratching, or repeated contact.
Learn About Abrasive WearCorrosive Wear
Corrosive wear combines surface degradation with chemical attack from the surrounding environment. Moisture, salts, acids, and other contaminants can contribute to pitting and material loss.
Learn About Corrosive WearErosive Wear
Erosive wear develops when particles carried by a moving gas or liquid strike a surface at sufficient velocity to cut, deform, or gradually remove material.
Learn About Erosive WearSurface Fatigue Wear
Surface fatigue wear results from repeated cyclic sliding or rolling contact. Continued loading can initiate subsurface cracks that eventually lead to pitting, spalling, and surface deterioration.
Learn About Surface FatigueIDENTIFYING THE CAUSE
Understanding Why a Surface Failed
Surface damage rarely tells the entire story by itself. The operating environment and component conditions help determine why the failure occurred.
Examine the component for galling, scratches, pitting, spalling, material transfer, or other visible indications of surface damage.
Consider loading, lubrication, friction, temperature, contamination, moisture, and the type of contact occurring between components.
Determine whether increased hardness, wear resistance, fatigue performance, lower friction, or corrosion protection may improve component life.
SURFACE ENGINEERING
Improving Resistance to Surface Failure
Proper material selection, component design, lubrication, and operating conditions all play a role in controlling wear. Where additional surface performance is required, plasma ion nitriding can improve the working surface of suitable ferrous components without applying a conventional coating.
Treatment requirements should be developed around the specific material, failure mechanism, component geometry, and operating environment.
Improve resistance to mechanical wear at critical working surfaces.
Help reduce material loss caused by friction and repeated contact.
Improve surface performance where components experience repeated cyclic loading.
Improve surface characteristics between mating or sliding components.
PLASOX® can provide additional protection where environmental exposure is a concern.
IMPROVE SURFACE PERFORMANCE
Experiencing Premature Component Wear?
Contact JGS to discuss the material, component, operating conditions, and type of surface failure you are experiencing. We can help evaluate whether plasma ion nitriding or another JGS surface treatment is appropriate for the application.