ABRASIVE WEAR MECHANISMS AND THE GRIT SIZE EFFECT

The classical cutting model for abrasive wear deviates from reality in that it cannot predict the effect of grit size on wear and that the observed wear rates are at least an order of magnitude smaller than the predicted values. Through experimental and theoretical work it is shown in this paper that the grit size effect is a consequence of the transition from a cutting mechanism to a sliding wear mechanism. The wear coefficient is shown to be less than that predicted by a cutting model owing to the plastic deformation of the surface being worn. © 1979.