Effect of microstructure (particulate size and volume fraction) and counterface material on the sliding wear resistance of particulate-reinforced aluminum matrix composites
- Univ. of Windsor, Ontario (Canada). Mechanical Engineering Dept.
The effects of microstructure and the counterface materials on the dry-sliding wear resistance of the aluminum matrix composites 2014Al-SiC and 6061Al-Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] were studied. Experiments were performed within a load range of 0.9 to 350 N at a constant sliding velocity of 0.2 ms[sup [minus]1]. Two types of counterface materials, SAE 52100 bearing steel and mullite, were used. At low loads, where particles act as load-bearing constituents, the wear resistance of the 2014Al reinforced with 15.8 [mu]m diameter SiC was superior to that of the alloy with the same volume fraction of SiC but with 2.4 [mu]m diameter. The wear rates of the composites worn against a steel slider were lower compared with those worn against a mullite slider because of the formation of iron-rich layers that act as in situ solid lubricants in the former case. With increasing the applied load, SiC and Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] particles fractured and the wear rates of the composites increased to levels comparable to those of unreinforced matrix alloys. The transition to this regime was delayed to higher loads in the composites with a higher volume percentage of particles. Concurrent with particle fracture, large strains and strain gradients were generated within the aluminum layers adjacent to contact surfaces. This led to the subsurface crack growth and delamination. Because the particles and interfaces provided preferential sites for subsurface crack initiation and growth and because of the propensity of the broken particles to act as third-body abrasive elements at the contact surfaces, no improvement of the wear resistance was observed in the composites in this regime relative to unreinforced aluminum alloys. A second transition, to severe wear, occurred at higher loads when the contact surface temperature exceeded a critical value. The transition loads were higher in the composites. The alloys with higher volume fraction of reinforcement provided better resistance to severe wear.
- OSTI ID:
- 7276526
- Journal Information:
- Metallurgical Transactions, A (Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science); (United States), Journal Name: Metallurgical Transactions, A (Physical Metallurgy and Materials Science); (United States) Vol. 25:5; ISSN 0360-2133; ISSN MTTABN
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRACK PROPAGATION
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NUMERICAL DATA
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
WEAR RESISTANCE