High temperature abrasion behaviour of Al/SiCP composites

In this study, high temperature wear behaviour of commercially pure Al matrix and Al-8 wt.% Mg alloy matrix composites reinforced with 60 vol.% SiCp were compared. Composites were produced by pressure infiltration technique and their tribological performance were examined by abrasive wear tests at various temperatures up to 500 °C. Wear tests were carried out under normal stress of 0.7 N/mm2 by rubbing on 125 µm Al2O3 abrasive grains bonded to belts. At all testing temperatures, the Al-8 wt.% Mg alloy matrix composite exhibited lower wear rate than that of pure Al matrix composite. Wear rates of the composites were almost independent from test temperatures up to 200 °C. At temperatures higher than 200 °C, the wear rate of both composites increased dramatically with increasing test temperature