Friction and wear of lubricated M3 Class 2 sintered high speed steel with and without TiC and MnS additives

Abstract M3/2 sintered high speed steel and composite materials processed by initial admixing of 5 wt.% TiC (to decrease wear) and 5 wt.% MnS (to minimise friction) powders, singly and in combination, were assessed in pin-on-disc tribometers specially constructed to simulate use in the automotive valve train. Pins were of the sintered materials and the mating tribological material discs of T1 high speed steel. For comparison with existing conventional materials, identical tests were performed with discs and pins of two types of spheroidal cast iron. Testing at ∼110 °C, employing a few drops of fresh Shell Helix Standard SAE: 15W-40, API: SJ/CF oil, in daily segments of 5000 m of sliding dis…