THE EFFECT OF PARTICULATE REINFORCEMENT ON THE SLIDING WEAR BEHAVIOR OF ALUMINUM MATRIX COMPOSITES

The aim of the present investigation is to characterize the friction and wear behavior of aluminum matrix composites reinforced with particulates of SiC, TiC, TiB2, and B4C. Sliding wear tests were conducted at two loads (80 and 160 N) using a pin-on-disc apparatus and under dry conditions. The results of the investigation indicate that the coefficient of friction of the composites is about 30 pct lower than that of pure aluminum, while the wear rates of the composites are lower by a factor of about 3 and 100 at loads of 80 and 160 N, respectively. The type and size of the reinforcement have a negligible influence on the wear rate and the coefficient of friction of the composites. However, the volume fraction of the reinforcement has a marginal influence on the wear rate. Though the coefficients of friction and the wear rates of the composites were broadly similar, the Al-TiC composite alone exhibits a somewhat higher wear rate. The above results of the present investigation have been rationalized on the basis of the inverse rule of mixtures and the existing models for friction and wear.