The 'glaze' formed in such cases is actually a crystalline oxide, with a very small crystal or grain size having been shown to approach nano-scale levels.
Such 'glazes' have attracted limited attention due to their ability to protect the metallic surfaces on which they may form, from wear under the high temperature conditions in which they are generated.
Such 'glazes' work by providing a mechanically resistant layer, which prevents direct contact between the two sliding surfaces.
Efforts at encouraging their early formation have met with very limited success, and the damage inflicted during the 'run in' period is one factor preventing this technique being used for practical applications.
Compacted oxide layers can form due to sliding at low temperatures and offer some wear protection; however, in the absence of heat as a driving force (either due to frictional heating or higher ambient temperature), they cannot sinter together to form more protective 'glaze' layers.