Tribological Properties and a Wear Model of Aluminium Matrix Composites - SiC Particles Designed for Metal Forming

Abstract

Aluminium based metal matrix composites are well known for their good wear resistance, high specific strength, stiffness and hardness. They have been applied in the aerospace, military and, especially, in the automotive industries. This paper presents the results of tests with regard to the application of a mixture of particles in aluminium matrix (AlCu2SiMn) composites where a mixture of SiC ceramic particles was used. The aim of the research was to determine the tribological properties as well as the phenomena and mechanisms which accompany the tribological wear of composites under dry friction conditions. The tribological investigations were conducted on a pin-on-block tester. The results of the tests show the composite obtained can be applied for sliding elements. Based on microscopic examinations and profilometry of the composites AlCu2SiMn+SiC surfaces at interaction the relationship between the size of reinforcing particles and the geometry of the surface layer of the composite was described. The study made it possible to develop a model of tribological wear of composites depending on the size of reinforcing particles.Keywords: tribology, metal matrix composites, wearKompozyty z osnową stopów aluminium, są dobrze znane z ich dobrej odporności na zużycie, wysokiej wytrzymałości, sztywności i twardości. Znalazły one zastosowanie w przemyśle lotniczym, wojskowym, ale zwłaszcza w przemyśle motoryzacyjnym. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań tribologicznych kompozytów o osnowie stopu AlCu2SiMn wzmacnianego cząstkami węglika krzemu (SiC) o rozmiarze ziaren od 25 do 50 µm. Celem badań było określenie właściwości tribologicznych oraz zjawisk i mechanizmów, które towarzyszą zużycie tribologicznemu kompozytów w warunkach tarcia suchego. Badania tribologiczne przeprowadzono na testerze pin-on-blok. Wyniki predysponują badane kompozyty do zastosowania na elementy ślizgowe. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań mikroskopowych i profilografometrycznych, powierzchni kompozytów po współpracy, opisano zależność pomiędzy wielkością cząstek zbrojących a geometrią warstwy wierzchniej kompozytu. Przeprowadzone badania pozwoliły na opracowanie modelu zużycia trybologicznego kompozytu w zależności od rozmiaru cząstek zbrojących.

Tribological Properties of AlSi12-Al2O3 Interpenetrating Composite Layers in Comparison with Unreinforced Matrix Alloy

“…The samples used to determine the tribological properties ( Table 1 ), sized 30 × 15 × 10 mm, were cut out from composite shafts and polished before testing. Thus, a prepared composite and matrix surface was subjected to the abrasion test under dry sliding conditions using tribology pin-on-block tester [ 31 ]. A normal load of 15 N (unit pressure of 2 MPa) and a sliding speed of 0.1 m/s were applied throughout the tests.…”

Scratch Testing of AlSi12/SiCp Composite Layer with High Share of Reinforcing Phase Formed in the Centrifugal Casting Process

“…From among MMCs, those perceived as particularly attractive and most intensively developed are particulate reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs) based on lightweight aluminum alloys (aluminum matrix composites, AlMCs) reinforced with hard ceramic phase, especially with particulate silicon carbide (SiC p ). A number of authors [6][7][8] pointed out that compared to the matrix material, Al/SiC p composites are characterized with higher strength and rigidity, also at elevated temperature, better stability of the thermal coefficient of expansion, and increased hardness and resistance to abrasive wear. Due to a number of favorable properties, the composites can successfully substitute monolithic materials such as aluminum alloys or iron alloys in applications involving operation in difficult and complex conditions, especially in tribological couples of various types.…”

Silver Matrix Composites - Structure and Properties

“…Therefore, the effects of these bonds as well as of tribological interactions of the component surfaces must be limited. They are managed through application of composite materials reinforced with ceramic particles or short fibres, such as: Ag-SnO 2 , Ag-Al 2 O 3 [1,3,[11][12][13][14].…”

“…Impact of the particle reinforcement on the tribological properties of metal matrix composites has been known based on, among others, a number of the authors' individual studies [2,[11][12]. Presence of reinforcing particles in the metal matrix, in addition to increased hardness of the interacting surfaces, primarily results in improved resistance of the interacting components to abrasive wear.…”