Studies on Friction in Steel-aluminum Alloy Tribo-system: Role of Surface Texture of the Softer Material

Current address – Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201 † Corresponding author – [email protected] Tel: (414) 229-3377 ABSTRACT Surface texture influences friction during sliding contact conditions. In the present investigation, the effect of surface texture of soft materials on friction during sliding against hard materials was studied using an inclined scratch testing system. In the experiments steel balls were slid against aluminum alloy flats of different surface textures and roughness. The surface textures were classified into unidirectional, 8-ground and random. Analysis of the experimental data showed that the friction depends on the softer materials surface texture under both dry and lubricated conditions. The results were also compared with aluminum alloy slid against steel flats of different surface textures and roughness. From the experiments, it can be inferred that the surface textures of both harder and softer materials are important in controlling frictional behavior.