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Abrasion can result in very rapid wear. Here, a harder body can cut or spall a softer counterface. Abrasion is classified into two primary mechanisms. In two-body abrasion, a hard, rough surface scratches, cuts or spalls a softer surface. In three-body abrasion, a hard third body damages one or both of the sliding surfaces. This is usually due to grit or dirt getting in between the sliding interface.
 two-body abrasion |
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 three-body abrasion |
Hard and well-adhered coatings and diffusion layers effectively reduce this wear. For effective reduction, the protected surface must be at least 20% harder than the abrasive.
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