Dry Sliding Wear and Friction of Aluminium Alloy Silicon Carbide Particulates Reinforced Composites

Abstract

In this work, the dry sliding wear behaviour and friction characteristics of aluminium alloy Al6061 silicon carbide particulates (SiCp) of size 43 µm reinforced composites were evaluated through laboratory experiments. The content of SiCp in the alloy was varied from 5% to 35% in steps of 5% by weight. The metal matrix composites were manufactured using stir casting technique. A pin-on-disc wear testing machine was used to evaluate the wear rate, in which an EN-31 steel disc was used as a counter face. Results indicated that the wear rates of the composites were lower than that of the matrix alloy and further reduction in wear rate was achieved by increasing the SiCp content. The wear rate increased for an increase in the load and sliding velocity. Increase in the applied load increased the wear severity by changing the wear mechanism from abrasion to particle cracking. The observations have been explained using scanning electron microscopy analysis of the worn surfaces. The coefficient of friction was evaluated using friction forces measured from the tests. The coefficient of friction decreased for an increase in the SiCp content at low sliding velocity.