Abstract
In this study, to evaluate the effect of boron carbide (B4C) addition on the wear performance of aluminum (Al), Al6061 and 5, 10, and 20 vol.% B4C/Al6061 composites were manufactured using the stir casting and hot rolling processes. B4C particles were randomly dispersed during the stir casting process; then, B4C particles were arranged in the rolling direction using a hot rolling process to further improve the B4C dispersion and wear resistance of the composites. Furthermore, a continuous interfacial layer between B4C and the Al6061 matrix was generated by diffusion of titanium (Ti) and chromium (Cr) atoms contained in the Al6061 alloy. Wear depth and width of the composites decreased with increasing B4C content. Furthermore, with B4C addition, coefficient of friction (COF) improved as compared with that of Al6061. The results indicate that interface-controlled, well-aligned B4C particles in the friction direction can effectively increase the wear properties of Al alloys and improve their hardness.
Highlights
Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have many advantages over Fe-based alloys or composites, including high specific strength, high hardness, high stiffness, and wear resistance
Through the hot rolling process, the B4C reinforcement was arranged according to the images, reinforcements in the composites manufactured by stir casting were randomly arrolling direction, forming several layers, and pores were remarkably reduced
Well-aligned, interface-controlled B4C/Al6061 composites were successfully fabricated by stir casting, followed by the hot rolling process
Summary
Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have many advantages over Fe-based alloys or composites, including high specific strength, high hardness, high stiffness, and wear resistance. Ortiz et al reported that the lubricated sliding wear resistance of a fine-grained B4 C composite fabricated by transient liquid-phase assisted spark-plasma sintering with Ti-Al additives under smooth conditions was comparable to that of the reference monolithic B4 C ceramic [15]. The mechanical wear behavior, hardness, and flexibility were analyzed, and the conclusion was drawn that RHA and B4 C particles improved the abrasion resistance of hybrid composites and reduced damage to the worn surface. N, the dominant wear mechanisms were microcutting and adhesion wear associated with the formation of delamination layers that protected the composites from further wear and enhanced the wear resistance under conditions of high load. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wear properties of low volumetric B4 C/Al composites having uniform B4 C dispersion and a controlled B4 C/Al6061 interface manufactured using the stir casting and hot rolling processes. Wear behavior according to the applied load and volume fraction of the B4 C reinforcement was analyzed
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