Effect of Mechanochemical Activation on Surface Oxidation of Steel Ball in Milling Serpentinite

Serpentinite is the main component of the worn metal reconditioner formulation chemistry and is supposed to be functioning by converting, under shearing strain forces, into oxygen-releasing species through mechanochemical / tribochemical activation and relaxation. Research in this effort employed a high energy planetary ball mill to conduct simulation experiments for understanding the mechanically activated oxidation of GCr15 steel ball surfaces in the course of milling the serpentinite powders in sealed steel containers at room temperatures. As a function of milling time, variations of chemical states of the milled ball surfaces were characterized with SEM, EDX and XPS. Examinations evidenced that plastic deformed layers emerged on the working surfaces of the milled steel balls. Analyses of the milled serpentinite powders were correlated to observations of the chemical and structural changes on the working surfaces of the milled steel balls. Role of the milled serpentinite powder in stimulating the mechanochemical oxidation of the working surfaces of steel balls was briefly expounded.