Abrasion can result in very rapid wear. It is classified into two primary mechanisms:
- In two-body abrasion, a hard rough surface scratches, cuts or spalls a softer surface.
- In three-body abrasion, a hard third body damages one or both of the sliding surfaces, usually due to grit or dirt getting in between the sliding interface.
This wear can be minimized by hard coatings strongly adhered to the substrate.