i hate to sound conceded but u "engineers" really do just read to much "books" and not just actually try some thing in the real world.!! a high silica bronze or aluminum bronze alloy works great like ampco 18 or amco 45 or equvilant.(look it up)!! nearly indestructible and tougher than wood*_*_*_*_*_* lips. yet slippery under extreme loads and wear resistant. much harder than stanless wich is generally pretty soft unless you use a 400 series wich is heat treatable to get hard or a high nickel base alloy like 17-4 ph or 18-8. sorry just thought i'd throw some info at u guys and see were that takes us.