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Surface Decarburisation of Stainless Steels

Stainless steel electrode was used to fill a worn out surface of screw press for extracting oil. Other electrodes were also used. At low pressure and low speed, stainless performed worse than cast iron but at high speed and high pressure, stainless steel was better. What do you think is responsible for this? Could it be due to surface decarburisation which made the surface of the stainless steel softer? Could this soft surface have been removed at high speed and pressure?

Please I need relevant references.

Dr. G.O. Oluwadare
-Osun State, Nigeria

De-carburization is not an factor. I suspect what is occurring is galling, i.e. rapid wear caused by microscopic adhesion of the stainless to the contact material. Stainless is quite prone to this phenomenon.

Dr. Michael McGuire
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

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