glossary
Galling — Industry Glossary Entry
Definition of galling in industrial cutting: severe adhesive wear where substrate material welds to the edge, tears off, and re-welds.
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Galling is severe adhesive wear where the substrate material welds to the cutting edge, tears off, and re-welds in a continuous cycle. The cut surface shows deep gouges, the edge is built up with substrate material, and the line speed must be dropped to keep cut quality in spec.
Substrates prone to galling
- Austenitic stainless (304, 316, 321): nickel catalysis
- Aluminium (5052, 6061, 7075): low melting point
- Copper, brass: low hardness + high thermal conductivity
- Gummy plastics: high friction at the cut
- Titanium (rare in industrial cutting, but severe)
Fixes
- Apply a low-friction coating (DLC for stainless and aluminium, ta-C for aluminium)
- Use high-pressure flood coolant (50+ bar at the nozzle)
- Drop the line speed to reduce heat generation
- Switch to a hot-hardness steel (M2 HSS, M42) with a more positive clearance angle
See also.
