Wear and Tribology
Tribology is a science of surfaces in contact. Motion between the surfaces can range from high speed bearings to slight vibration, fretting, between a high strength fastener and its faying surface. Even more than corrosion, tribology effects are limited to the surface. Metallurgical Failure Analysis has expertise in in identifying and solving problems in tribology and wear. Lubrication Engineering is an important technology used to solve some aspects of wear failures. Metallurgical Failure Analysis knows how to select materials to resist wear.
Identifying the type of wear is key in solving the wear problem. Metallurgical Failure Analysis has expertise on solving problems in wear failures.
Common types of wear are:
- Abrasion
- Adhesion
- Scuffing
- Galling
- Fretting (False Brinelling)
- Erosion/Corrosion
- Contact Fatigue
- Subsurface Fatigue, (Sliding and Rolling)
- Cavitation Damage
Erosion Corrosion. Metal loss inside of nipple, red brass.
Erosion/Corrosion of vertical pump impeller.
