Tribological Properties and Wear Mechanisms of SiCp/6092Al Composites with Different Volume Fractions

Abstract

SiCp-reinforced 6092Al composites with volume fractions of 25% and 60% were prepared using a powder metallurgy method. Their friction and wear characteristics were analyzed using a reciprocating friction and wear testing machine under loads of 20 to 50 N against YG6 cemented carbide. The experimental results show that the friction coefficients of all samples increase with increasing load. The 25vol% composite exhibits the lowest friction coefficient (0.1669–0.2716), while the 60vol% composite exhibits the highest (0.3237–0.3990), with the 6092 aluminum alloy falling between the two. The wear volume and specific wear rate also increase with load, but the composites with a higher SiC content demonstrate smaller increments, with the 60vol% composite exhibiting superior wear resistance. Under a 30 N load, the wear scars of the 60vol% composite show a significant increase in the contents of elements such as C, Co, W, and O, indicating more severe wear of the counterpart material. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals wear mechanisms including adhesive wear, two-body sliding and three-body rolling wear of particles, and delamination.

Keywords

SiCp/6092Al composites / wear mechanisms / different volume fractions / tribological properties

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