Abrasive wear tests of low Cr steel and carbon steel under the effect of impact-abrasion were carried out. The topography and the composition of specimen surface were analyzed using scanning Auger microprobe (SAM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was observed that wear loss was dependent on chemical environment, curvature radius of the specimen surface and thermal processing history. Wear and failure mechanisms of low Cr steels in different chemical environments are discussed according to the reaction film structure formed on the impact-abraded surface.