Improvement of the wear resistance of EN8 steel by application of alternating magnetic field treatment

In the present paper, the tribological properties of untreated and magnetically treated EN8 medium-carbon steel were studied. Tribological tests were performed using a pin-on-disc friction and wear tester. The alternating magnetic field treatment has led to a reduction in the coefficient of friction by 18% and of the wear rate by 41% and to decreases in the surface roughness and the wear scar width by 30% and 12% respectively. Examination by means of transmission electron microscopy attributed these results to increased dislocation mobility and migration to the surface as a result of alternating magnetic field treatment leading to an increase in the Vickers microhardness and to an increase in compressive residual stresses at the surface.