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        COMPOSITE WEAR

There are several mechanisms of composite wear including adhesive wear, abrasive wear, fatigue, and chemical wear.  Adhesive wear is created by extremely small contacts and therefore extremely high forces, of two opposing surfaces.  When small forces release, material is removed.  All surfaces have microscopic roughness which is where extremely small contacts occur between opposing surfaces.

Abrasive wear is when a rough material gouges out material on an opposing surface.  A harder surface gouges a softer surface.  Materials are not uniform so hard materials in a soft matrix, such as filler in resin, gouge resin and opposing surfaces.  Fatigue causes wear.  Constant repeated force causes substructure deterioration and eventual loss of surface material.    Chemical wear occurs when environmental materials such s saliva, acids or like affect a surface.