Principles of abrasive wear

Abstract The mechanisms of abrasive wear are reviewed and laboratory test methods assessed. The results of abrasive wear tests on technically pure metals, heat treated steels, cold work hardened materials, hard wear resistant materials and minerals against fixed abrasive grains are discussed. The correlation between abrasive wear resistance and the physical properties of materials is established; the effect of the relative hardness of the abrasive and impact loading is considered. The basic principles of abrasive wear derived are outlined.