Effect of element additions on wear property of eutectic aluminium-silicon alloys

Abstract

The effects of cerium, zinc and zirconium additions and subsequent heat treatment on wear of the eutectic aluminium-silicon alloys have been investigated in dry sliding against a steel counterface by using a pin-on-disc machine. Wear surfaces and debris were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Wear characteristics of both binary Al-Si alloys and a commercial LM 13 alloy, were also studied and compared with those of the AlSi alloy containing the Ce, Zn and Zr. The k-values of the ALSI (Al-12.3%Si), LM13, ASMC-1 (Al-12.3%Si-0.75%Mg-0.26%Ce) and ASMC-1 (heat-treated) obtained are 5.795 × 10 −4, 4.750 × 10 −4, 4.311 × 10 -4 and 3.981 × 10 −4 mm 3N −1 m −1, respectively.