Materials typically fail from four major types of wear:
- Abrasive wear occurs when hard particles or rough surfaces grind against a softer material, cutting or scraping away layers over time.
- Adhesive wear happens when two surfaces slide under pressure, causing small bits of material to transfer or tear away.
- Corrosive wear combines chemical attack with mechanical action — acids, moisture, or other corrosives weaken the surface, making it more prone to wear.
- Fatigue wear results from repeated stress cycles, which create microcracks that grow until chunks of material flake off.
Understanding the differences between wear types is key to selecting the right surface treatment or coating to extend part life.