Influence of Surface Treatment of High Carbon Steel on the Reciprocating Wear in Comparison With the 316 Stainless Steel Available to Purchase

Diffusion treatments such as chromising and aluminising of high carbon steel results in the formation of Cr and Al rich layers on the surface. These layers will be responsible for formation of protective Cr₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ scale on exposure to corrosive environment. In view of extensive application of 316 Stainless Steel in biomedical engineering, present work is undertaken to examine the influence of diffusion treatment of high carbon steel on the reciprocating wear in Hank’s solution and to compare the same behavior with that of 316 SS. In order to achieve the above mentioned objectives, the wear rates of 316 SS, 304 SS, high carbon steel in aluminised and chromised condition have been evaluated. Though the general characteristics of the wear behavior, such as higher wear rate at higher load and at higher reciprocating speed, for all the materials are similar, aluminised and chromised high carbon steel exhibited best wear resistance especially at high and intermediate load. In simulated body fluid condition, 316 SS exhibited two different material removal mechanisms. In the first case, which is observed at higher load, material loss is by nucleation and propagation of crack. In the second mechanism which is prevalent at low and intermediate load, wear takes place by deterioration of composite layer formed on the surface by mixing the corrosion product and the substrate. Consequently it is noted that wear rate decreases with increase of hardness at higher load. At intermediate and at low load wear rate is less dependent of hardness.