Wear studies were conducted in the chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to permit direct observations of the wear processes. The sliding specimens had been metallographically polished and etched prior to test so that the effect of the alloy micro-structures could be observed. Test alloys included: low and high carbon steels, stainless steels, and bronze. As wear particles were generated, and became trapped in the interface, they produced surface damage which was in the form of material removed, or metal transfer to one of the sliding members. Video tape records were made at magnification up to 8000X and photomicrographs were taken at higher magnification to show the geometry of the wear particles.Presented as an American Society of Lubrication Engineers paper at the ASME/ASLE Lubrication Conference in Washington, D.C., October 5–7, 1982