cieraniem

Ścieranie, commonly used in tribology and materials science, is the process of material removal from a surface caused by mechanical action such as rubbing, sliding, or impact with another surface or particle. The term in its standard Polish spelling is ścieranie; cieraniem is the instrumental form. It concerns gradual loss of material, changes in surface geometry and texture, and can affect performance and life of components.

Mechanisms of ścieranie include abrasive wear (hard particles erode a surface by plowing or cutting), adhesive wear (material transfer due to adhesion and plastic deformation), surface fatigue wear (microcracking from cyclic stresses leading to material removal), and erosive wear (impact of particles). The phenomenon is influenced by factors such as load, sliding speed, surface roughness, hardness, lubrication, and environmental conditions.

Measurement and modeling of ścieranie typically involve quantifying volume or thickness loss. Wear rate is often expressed as V/(L·s) or related forms, with Archard’s wear law providing a common simplified relation: V = k · (L · s) / H, where V is wear volume, L is load, s is sliding distance, H is hardness, and k is a dimensionless wear coefficient. This framework helps compare materials and lubricants and guides design choices to minimize wear.

Applications and mitigation: ścieranie is a critical consideration in mechanical components such as bearings, gears, and cutting tools, in consumer products, and in dental contexts where tooth enamel wear can occur. Mitigation strategies include using harder counterfaces, proper lubrication, surface coatings and treatments (hard coatings, ceramics, hardening, shot peening), and design changes to reduce contact stresses.

Etymology: the concept derives from the verb ścierać, meaning to rub away; ścieranie denotes the process, while cieraniem is the instrumental form.