Effect of low temperature on tribological characteristics and wear mechanism of wire rope

To explore friction and wear characteristics between hoisting ropes in winding under low-temperature environment, the friction and wear characteristics of 6 × 19 + FC wire rope under dry friction and oil-water lubrication conditions were investigated on a self-made tester. The results show that the friction coefficient increases slightly with the decrease of ambient temperature and reaches the maximum value of 0.85 at − 25 ℃ under dry friction. Under the oil-water lubrication, the friction coefficient, wear area, and wear depth are significantly smaller than those under the dry friction: the wear area decreases by approximately 3 times, and the wear depth decreases by approximately 7 times. Meanwhile, the friction coefficient first increases and then decreases with the decrease of ambient temperature, and reaches the maximum value at − 15 ℃, approximately 0.35. Furthermore, with the decrease of temperature, the wear mechanism of wire rope under dry friction changes from oxidation wear and abrasive wear to fatigue wear and adhesion wear. However, under oil-water lubrication, the oxidation wear of the wire rope is weakened, and the adhesion wear phenomenon is first aggravated and then weakened. In addition, according to the variation of the wear characteristic parameters of the rope in different operating states and the wear mechanism at different temperatures, the wear degree map of the rope under different parameters (temperature, speed, load) is predicted. •A tester for exploring low temperature on wear between ropes was developed.•The COF of rope under dry friction shows a large trend at − 25 ℃.•The wear depth and area are smaller at low speed and load under oil-water lubrication.•The wear mechanism of dry changes from oxi-abrasive to adhe-fatigue under low-temp.•The wear degree map of the rope under differ temperature, speed, load is predicted.