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Tribological damage

The premature loss of function or failure of a component is a sign that the actual requirements did not correspond to those of the design. Tribological stress is often involved. Parameters such as the type and sequence of movement, load, speed, duration of stress and temperature are crucial. But the use of materials with tribologically coordinated properties such as adhesion tendency, hardness, heat treatment, coating, surface quality and tolerances are also of great importance.

The most important wear mechanisms resulting from tribological stress are adhesion, abrasion, disruption and tribochemical reactions, which can also occur in superimposed form.
A rough subdivision of the types of wear is:

sliding wear
rolling wear
vibration wear
abrasive wear

The visible consequences of the types of wear mentioned are, for example, increased corrosion of the surface, (particle) detachment from the surface but also cracks in the component that can occur in areas with increased wear.

Typical examinations here include a SEM-EDX analysis of the surfaces and subsequent documentation and classification of microscopic signs of wear. A metallographic examination is used to assess the depth of wear and damage to the material. A precise description and classification of the damage allows the cause to be determined and suitable remedial measures to be defined.

Our accredited laboratory offers extensive damage investigations. This includes material testing of components, operating materials and residue analyses. The methodology for tribological damage cases follows typical laboratory tests such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX analysis and mapping), microscopic examinations, structural investigations, hardness tests, particle analyses and residual stress measurements. By describing and classifying the damage precisely, the cause can be determined and suitable remedial measures can be defined.