OBRABOTKAMETALLOV MATERIAL SCIENCE Vol. 27 No. 2 2025 rate of M1, M2, and M3 against SS 304 stainless steel in the range of parameters selected in this study. The exponents of the empirical relations clearly indicate that material M1 shows a linear relationship with load as well as temperature; however, material M3 shows a dependency on the sliding velocity. Material M1 under higher load and temperature showed higher wear, limiting its use for higher loading conditions. Whereas material M3 was least resistant to wear due to its higher pre-factor as well as higher exponents for sliding velocity and temperature. Material M2 showed lower sensitivity towards load and temperature as well as moderate sensitivity to sliding velocity, emerging as an overall wear-resistant material. The 3-D plots reflecting the variation in the specific wear rate are shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, a–c) for materials M1, M2, and M3, respectively. The plot shown in Fig. 5, a indicates that the specific wear rate shows a strong dependency on load and sliding velocity. However, the specific wear shows a steeper slope with load compared to sliding velocity, indicating a considerable impact of load on the wear rate for material M1. In Fig. 5, b, the contours show that specific wear is rapidly influenced by the load rather than temperature, indicating the dominant role of load in determining the specific wear rate for the tested conditions of parameters. The plot shown in Fig. 5, c shows a steeper gradient along the sliding velocity than temperature. It clearly indicates that sliding velocity has a slightly higher influence on the wear behavior of material M1 than the temperature. Figs. 6, a, b and c show the performance of material M2 under load, temperature, and sliding velocity. At higher values of the parameters, the frictional force and the interface temperature increase, resulting in surface degradation; hence, a noticeable rise in wear is observed. Higher temperatures and loads accelerate material wear by reducing its resistance to deformation, as the matrix material softens, leading to increased wear. Additionally, wear tends to increase with a rise in sliding velocity due to greater heat generation at the interacting surfaces. The effect becomes even more pronounced as the temperature continues to rise. The surface plots in Figs. 7, a, b and c illustrate the behavior of material M3 under different operating conditions. It is evident that the wear rate follows a non-linear trend concerning these parameters. Higher loads increase stress in the contact region, leading to greater wear, even at lower sliding velocities and temperatures. Increased sliding velocity causes thermal degradation of the material, further accelerating a b c Fig. 5. Specific wear rate for M1 (a) normal load vs sliding speed, (b) normal load vs temperature and (c) sliding speed vs temperature
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