Ferrous particles & wear [page 2 of 'ferrous particle problem']
In any given fluid system the hardest and sharpest debris is usually the ferrous material. In fact, research has shown that much of the wear debris is never created if the ferrous debris is removed early on.
Metallic contamination causes wear on any component that it comes into contact with. It can also compromise fluid life by acting as a catalyst to the oxidation process!
Chain reaction of wear
When contaminant becomes lodged in dynamic clearances (between a piston and its cylinder for example) or as it is propelled around the system by the fluid, it erodes further microscopic particles from the system walls into the fluid.
In turn the new contaminant causes further wear and creates even more contaminants in a vicious cycle until eventually the system clogs or fails catastrophically.
This exponential process is refered to as the ‘Chain Reaction of Wear’ causing a highly damaging knock on domino effect.