The influence of atmospheric humidity and grain size on the friction and wear of AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel

The tribological properties of a ultra-fine AISI 304 austenitic stainless steels obtained by means of a martensitic transformation and subsequent austenite reversion are reported. The effects of the grain size on the wear resistance of such material is, for the first time, investigated as a function of the atmospheric humidity. Decrease of relative humidity in wear tests of AISI 304 steel produces an increase in weight loss and in the friction coefficient. A beneficial effect of grain refining is also shown with respect to large grain steel in that the finer grain steel produces less initial weight loss and the weight loss with an increase in the humidity is also less pronounced.