Bell Metallurgy Metallurgical Failure Analysis 3568 Caminito El Rincon, #93 San Diego, California, 92130 Worldwide Service 209 367-1398 - Email: bell.metallurgy@gmail.com Mark Douglas Bell, PE Consulting Metallurgical Engineer

Wear and Tribology

Tribology is a science of surfaces in contact. Motion between the surfaces can range from high speed bearings to slight vibration, fretting, between a high strength fastener and its faying surface. Even more than corrosion, tribology effects are limited to the surface. Metallurgical Failure Analysis has expertise in identifying and solving problems in tribology and wear. Lubrication Engineering is an important technology used to solve some aspects of wear failures. Metallurgical Failure Analysis knows how to select materials to resist wear. Identifying the type of wear is key in solving the wear problem. Metallurgical Failure Analysis has expertise on solving problems in wear failures. The image above illustrates erosion corrosion. Metal loss inside of a nipple, red brass. The image at right shows erosion/corrosion of a vertical pump impeller. Common types of wear are: Abrasion Adhesion Scuffing Galling Fretting (False Brinelling) Erosion/Corrosion Contact Fatigue Subsurface Fatigue, (Sliding and Rolling) Cavitation Damage