Wear is the progressive loss or displacement of solid surface material. Different types of wear can impact components, which can limit their useful life and lead to other potential safety or operational concerns.

Fisher Barton is a premier manufacturing partner with experience in high-wear parts and components. We can help you identify the one or multiple types of wear processes your products may be susceptible to, and find the solutions best suited to each unique form of damage.

Types of Wear

There are six common types of wear that affect solid components, each of which is due to either mechanical or chemical damage.

Abrasive Wear

Abrasive damage occurs when a hard surface penetrates the mating or adjacent surface of another component. This process generates broken off debris from the scratching or gouging, and those particles themselves cause additional damage.

Adhesive Wear

Adhesive wear is a scoring or galling process that occurs between a relatively harder and a relatively softer surface. As the two surfaces rub against each other, broken off particles of the softer surface build up on the harder component before eventually breaking off.

Surface Fatigue Wear

Over time, parts that undergo loading and unloading forces build up cyclic stress that will eventually cause cracks along the surface or deeper in the components. Generally, surface fatigue cannot occur simultaneously with abrasive or adhesive wear.

Erosive Wear

If a part is exposed to gases or liquids with particles that can abrade the surface, eventually the particles will erode the surface. The degree of damage erosive wear can cause depends on factors like:

Particle sharpness
Particle hardness
Velocity of impact
Angle of impact
Fretting Wear

When parts with touching surfaces oscillate against each other, they produce a vibrating motion that can wear down one or both of the surfaces, and the broken particles stay trapped in the space between the two parts.

Corrosive Wear

Strong chemicals can etch the surface, chemically alter it, and weaken it enough that particulate or debris wears off the component. Corrosive wear can also worsen the effects of subsequent abrasive wear.

Wear Process Solutions

Once product developers identify the types of wear their products may become susceptible to, it’s easier to pick solutions that are effective and efficient. Engineers from Fisher Barton routinely assist companies in developing longer-lasting products, with vast expertise in the following:

Material selection. The right materials are less vulnerable to damage. We consider material hardness, material strength, corrosion resistance, and other properties.
Lubrication. Lubricants reduce friction between mating surfaces by providing a protective, low-friction layer of material between moving elements. Lubricants are an excellent option for applications prone to adhesive and abrasive wear.
Surface coatings. Similar to lubricant, surface coatings protect the underlying material from contact with mechanically or chemically abrasive hazards.
Design modifications. At Fisher Barton, we can also help stop damage from the start by designing assemblies so that there is less contact stress, contamination, or sliding distance between vulnerable components.
Maintenance practices. These practices can involve routinely cleaning parts, filtering out abrasive particles or contaminants, and reapplying lubrication over time.
Protective measures. Assemblies can include barriers or other physical shields to prevent erosion or abrasive particles from reaching at-risk components.

Find Protective Coatings That Withstand Wear With Fisher Barton

Many different coatings and process solutions can protect components and assemblies against wear. At Fisher Barton, we work from concept to coating to mitigate damage from abrasive wear, surface fatigue, erosive, corrosive wear, and more. We serve a wide selection of commercial and industrial markets, including the aerospace, defense, agriculture, construction, chemical, food processing, medical, and industrial markets.

What Is Wear? Types of Wear Processes