The effect of hydrogen on the abrasive wear properties of low carbon steel has been studied. The specimens were electrochemically hydrogen-charged in 1 N $H_2SO_4$ solution containing 100 mg/1 $As_2O_3$ for 5 to 20 min at various current densities of 50 to 200 A/㎡ The wear rate was measured using a plane on disc type (plane : specimen, disc : SiC paper) as a function of applied load and the amount of charged hydrogen. In the case of lower applied load (54 N/㎡, 109 N/㎡), charged hydrogen increased the wear rate. This was explained in terms of the growth and coalescence of voids nucleated during the hydrogen charging. In the contrast, the charged hydrogen decreased the wear rate under higher applied load (218 N/㎡). This was discussed in terms of the increase in the surface hardness due to strain hardening resulting from the impedement of cross slip by hydrogen.
