DRY SLIDING WEAR OF A356-AL-SICP COMPOSITES

Aluminium alloy (A356)-SiC composites containing 15 and 25 wt.% silicon carbide particles (average size 43 mum) were tested for sliding wear at different loads using a pin on disc machine. Composites exhibited better wear resistance compared with unreinforced alloy up to a pressure of 26 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy examination of worn surfaces and subsurfaces show that the presence of dispersed SiC particles help in reducing the propensity of material flow at the surface, at the same time leading to the formation of an iron-rich layer on the surface.