The objective of this study was to develop a theoretical model and associated wear mode map to identify the regimes in which two body abrasion (grooving abrasion) and three body abrasion (rolling abrasion) dominate in the micro-abrasive wear test (also known as the ball cratering wear test). This test is generally considered to be a three body wear test. The wear mechanisms and wear rates were investigated using diamond abrasive over a range of loads (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 N), and slurry

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... ons (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 volume fraction abrasive). It was found that during abrasion wear, a transition from grooving to rolling wear could be identified for a load with respect to time. The critical condition for the transition between two-body and three-body abrasion was determined from a continuum mechanics model for the penetration of the abrasive particles into the surfaces of the ball and the specimen, coupled with considerations of equilibrium. Two wear modes are usually observed in this type of test: 'rolling abrasion' results when the abrasive particles roll on the surface of the tested specimen, while 'grooving abrasion' is observed when the abrasive particles slide; the type of wear mode has a significant effect on the overall behaviour of a tribological system. Wear rates of metallic samples were determined and the worn surfaces were examined by optical microscopy, SEM and Talysurf profilometry.