Sliding Properties of Pure Metals in Hydrogen Environment

As the first step to understand how hydrogen influences the sliding properties of metallic materials, nine self-mated pairs of metallic elements were tested using a pin-on-disk apparatus. The results of friction force, wear amount, and observations of wear debris showed that the elements could be roughly categorized into two groups; transition and non-transition elements. Chemisorption of hydrogen on the sliding surfaces was thought to be predominant of the tribological properties in the first group of elements, while chemisorption did not take place on the sliding surfaces of the latter group. The effect of hydrogen on sliding appeared similar to that of oxygen in terms of chemisorption.