Tribological characterization of cemented tungsten carbides with different configurations in severe abrasion

摘要

The development of cemented tungsten carbides is interesting and necessary for many industrial fields where materials resistant to abrasion in severe conditions are looked for (e.g. inserts of drag bits used in underground works). In order to understand the wear mode of some WC specimens and to observe the impact of the testing parameters, a tribometer has been developed specifically to study abrasion in severe conditions. On this testing device, the influence of many testing parameters (contact force, sliding distance, constant sliding speed and variable sliding speed, nature and size of abrasive grains, presence of lubricant, type of motion, etc.) has been observed on the output data (friction coefficient, wear volume, dissipated energy, specific abrasion energy, presence or not of thermal effect...). Analyzes of the effects of the test parameters and materials properties on the tribological behavior are performed.