Machining of steel metal will result in surface integrity which is related to tribological effects. Does the content and final phase occurring in iron-carbon alloys on steel surfaces have an impact on tribology?
The influence of the carbon content on the tribology of its alloys with iron is very strong. The carbon content changes the hardness of steels, creating both very hard carbide inclusions and very soft graphite inclusions in cast irons and steels, and all this is reflected in both the coefficient of friction and wear resistance. The influence of the carbon content is also manifested in the ability of steel to harden, which also has a dramatic effect on tribology.
Carbon is the most important element profoundly affecting the mechanical properties of the steels. Increasing the carbon content of steels increases the hardness and strength. The wear performance of steel significantly governed by the chemical composition of material and wear of carbon steel is distinctly reduced by adding more carbon. The wear is strongly influenced by percentage of carbon and wear decreases with increase in percentage of carbon.