Tribological Behavior Of Al-Fe Powder Metallurgy - Metal Matrix Composite Materials Under Low Contact Loads

摘要

The goal of the present work is to present the experimental results of a study conducted on the dry sliding wear of Al-Fe matrix composites (MMC), Fabricated by the powder metallurgy (PM) techniques of hot compaction followed by hot extrusion The variables of the study consisted of the contact load (5N up to 15N) , the reinforcement weight fraction (0 wt% Fe up to 15wt% Fe), and the sliding distance (400m to 950 m ). The effects of these variables on the weight loss , and the specific wear rate were investigated and compared to previous studies. Besides, as-cast aluminum specimens were used under the same conditions as the MMC materials to compare the behavior of the as- cast Al- to the Al-based MMC.rnThe results indicated that the PM technique is superior to casting in producing aluminum with better wear resistance. It also showed that as reinforcement weight fraction increased, the wear resistance increased. The wear rate of the as-cast aluminum is 117% higher than that of the Al- 0 wt% Fe unreinforced PM specimens, and 337% higher than that of Al- 15 wt % Fe PM MMC material. The load dependence of weight loss is more of a strong function of the presence of hard particles in the soft aluminum matrix , than it is of the reinforcement weight fraction , The present study indicated a linear wear rate—contact load relationship, rather than a power law as reported in the literature.