Volume 20, Issue 4, 2011

FULL ARTICLE: INVESTIGATION OF UNLUBRICATED SLIDING WEAR BEHAVIOURS OF IN-SITU AlB /Al METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE

Ferit Ficici¹ , Sakip Koksal¹ , Ramazan Kayikci¹ , Omer Savas²

¹Sakarya University, Technical Education Faculty, 54187, Sakarya, Turkey

²Duzce University, Gumusova High Vocational School, 81850, Duzce, Turkey

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: Tel: +902642956459 Fax: +902642956424 e-mail:fficici@sakarya.edu.tr

Received 12 March 2011; accepted 14 April 2011

ABSTRACT

In this study, wear behaviour of AlB₂/Al composite materials produced through in-situ method have been experimentally investigated. Four different composite materials that include 5wt.%, 10wt.%, 20wt.% and 30wt.% AlB₂ reinforcement phase were tested using pin-on-disk arrangement. The effects of the rate of reinforcement on wear and friction behaviours have been investigated. Wear tests are carried out at 1.83, 3.40 and 4.71 m/s sliding speeds under 10, 20 and 40 N applied loads. The test results show that wear rate increases with the increase in applied load and sliding distance. Increasing the rate of reinforcement phase in the matrix has proportionally increased the wear resistance by 3% to 30%. Hence the greatest wear resistance has been observed with the composite materials having 30wt. % AlB₂ reinforcement. Analysis of the worn surfaces of composite samples shows that abrasive and adhesive wear mechanisms are more effective.

Keywords:In-situ AlB₂ composite; pin-on-disk test; metal matrix composites