Fabrication and Characterization of Sn-Based Babbitt Alloy Nanocomposite Reinforced with Al2O3 Nanoparticles/Carbon Steel Bimetallic Material.

Mohamed Ramadan,Tayyab Subhani,K S Abdel Halim,Abdulaziz S Alghamdi

doi:10.3390/ma13122759

Mohamed Ramadan, Tayyab Subhani + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13122759

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Abstract

Sn-based Babbitt alloy was reinforced with alumina nanoparticles to prepare a novel class of nanocomposites. The route of liquid metallurgy in combination with stirring mechanism was chosen to prepare nanocomposites with three different loadings of alumina nanoparticles, i.e., 0.25 wt%, 0.50 wt% and 1.0 wt%. The molten mixture of metallic matrix and nanoparticles was poured over carbon steel substrate for solidification to manufacture a bimetallic material for bearing applications. The underlying aim was to understand the effect of nanoparticle addition on microstructural variation of Sn-based Babbitt alloy as well as bimetallic microstructural interface. The addition of 0.25 wt% and 0.50 wt% alumina nanoparticles significantly affected both the morphology and distribution of Cu6Sn5 hard phase in solid solution, which changed from needle and asterisk shape to spherical morphology. Nanocomposites containing up to 0.50 wt% nanoparticles showed more improvement in tensile strength than the one containing 1.0 wt% nanoparticles, due to nanoparticle-agglomeration and micro-cracks at the interface. The addition of 0.5 wt% nanoparticles significantly improved the wear resistance of Sn-based Babbitt alloy.

Highlights

In any engine, bearings are used to support moving mechanical parts, which protect them from frictional degradation
Microstructure of Reinforced Sn-based Babbitt Alloy and Bimetal Interface. Microstructures of both of the materials used in the fabrication of tin-based Babbitt alloy/carbon steel bimetallic composite are shown in Figure 3 while Figure 4 shows SEM microstructures (Figure 4a,c) and EDS analysis (Figure 4b,d) of Cu6 Sn5 hard phase and matrix of tin-based Babbitt alloy of bimetallic material
The acquired results show that alumina nanoparticle loadings of 0.25 wt% and 0.50 wt% increase smoother than the asterisk and needle shape and may have the ability to wear less in comparison to the hardness, tensile strength, and wear resistance of Sn-based Babbitt alloy, which decrease by further the other two shapes

Summary

Introduction

Bearings are used to support moving mechanical parts, which protect them from frictional degradation. The importance of stronger bearing materials becomes many fold in powerful engines. The significance of bearings in other mechanical systems such as pumps and turbines cannot be underestimated, and both the improved wear resistance and reliability of frictional components in terms of their mechanical strength become the prime requisites [1]. White metal is one of the bearing alloys that offers desired bearing surface properties in plain bearings; the common alloys have tin and lead as leading metals and are widely used in friction assemblies such as compressors, turbines, vehicles, and many other frictional units [2]. Babbitt alloys have two important lead-based and tin-based families. Lead is a weak material and tin, copper and antimony are added for improved strength [3]

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