Effect of Aluminum Addition to Cu-10wt%Sn Bearing on its Pin-on-Disc Wear Behavior

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study effect of sintering time, sintering temperature and aluminum addition on pin-on-disc wear behavior of Cu-10wt%Sn bearing that was produced from powder metallurgy method. It was found that, for the as-sintered samples, the larger addition of aluminum, the greater reduction in density and hardness in all sintering conditions. Density and hardness of samples sintered at 900°C decreased with increasing sintering time. Density and hardness of samples sintered at 830°C increased with increasing sintering time. Maximum hardness was obtained when the samples were sintered at 900°C for 30 min or sintered at 830oC for 60 min. Heat treating the samples by annealing at 750oC for 1 h, and quenching in water improved the hardness of the samples alloyed with aluminum significantly. Hardness of 5wt%Al sample increased by 37% to 69.2 HV. Wear mode of samples without aluminum addition was abrasive with accumulation of α-phase wear debris on worn pin surface. For samples with aluminum addition, wear mode was abrasive-oxidative producing clean worn surface which was preferred for self-lubrication mechanism of this type of bearing.