LAUSR

Abstract The tribological characteristics of cast iron vary markedly depending on the state of its graphite content. In this study, the friction and wear properties of flake graphite cast iron and spheroidal graphite cast iron were examined by means of in situ observations. In addition, because the behaviors of graphite, wear particles, and lubricants in friction and wear are not fully understood, experiments were performed under various conditions of grease consistency and the results were compared with those in unlubricated conditions. The process of extrusion of graphite from inside cast iron samples due to deformation and fracture of the sliding surface, the behavior of the extruded graphite particles, and the process of generation of wear particles were clarified by these studies.