Why does oxygen appear in EDS during severe wear on Al 6061 samples?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the appearance of oxygen in Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) results from wear experiments conducted on Al 6061 samples. Participants explore the microstructural changes associated with severe wear conditions, specifically under a load of 70N and a sliding distance of 3000M, and the implications of metal transfer during wear.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that exposure of aluminum to air after wear would lead to oxygen detection in EDS due to the formation of a thin layer of aluminum oxide (Al2O3).
  • Another participant questions whether metal transfer from a steel ring during wear could result in iron oxide appearing on the aluminum surface.
  • A different viewpoint posits that aluminum and aluminum oxide might instead be found on the steel surface, as the steel is harder and would wear away the aluminum, leaving the steel mostly intact.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the sources of oxygen and the effects of metal transfer during the wear process, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without consensus.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not clarify the specific microstructural changes referred to, nor does it resolve the implications of metal transfer or the conditions under which the EDS analysis was performed.

darkelf
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Hello,

Did some wear experiments on some Al 6061 samples. Could anyone help with some microstructure descriptions (changes) and why oxygen should appear in the EDS of severe wear (70N at a sliding distance of 3000M)?

Also if anyone has any papers on wear reistance or coefficient of friction I sure would appreciate it.

Cheers
 
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If you exposed the aluminum to air at all following the wear, I would expect oxygen in the EDS signal. Aluminum oxides rapidly, and if you're doing EDS on the surface, there will be a thin layer of Al2O3.

I'm not sure what you mean by microstructure descriptions.
 
Thank you.
If it's been slided against a steel ring, wouldn't metal transfer during severe wear cause Iron Oxide to appear on the Al surface?

Thanks
 
I would actually expect aluminum (and therefore aluminum oxide) to appear on the steel surface. The steel is presumably much harder than the aluminum. Because of this, a wear process would wear away the aluminum, leaving the steel mostly intact.
 

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