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The effect of alumina fibre reinforcement on the wear of an Al-4.3% Cu alloy

1995; Elsevier BV; Volume: 181-183; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0043-1648(95)90038-1

1873-2577

C. Perrin, W.M. Rainforth,

Microstructure and mechanical properties

The effect of reinforcement by a twenty volume percent Saffil preform (S-Al2O3 fibres) on the wear of a binary Al-4.3%Cu alloy has been investigated under both dry and lubricated sliding. Wear testing was undertaken on a tri-pin-on-disc machine over a range of loads. Cross-sectional TEM has allowed microstructural characterisation of the worn surfaces in terms of deformation and the effects of temperature. Direct evidence of load transfer by the fibres has been shown to produce a greater depth of deformation but lower surface strain in the reinforced material compared with the monolith. A 20-fold improvement in the wear resistance for the MMC compared with the unreinforced matrix alloy in lubricated sliding was observed. However, the monolith exhibited superior wear resistance compared with the composite for loads above 15 N for dry sliding. Microstructural change as a function of depth below the worn surface has been considered for all test conditions. In addition, the manner in which matrix deformation is modified by the presence of fibres has been assessed. Finally, direct evidence has been obtained for the location and mechanism of fibre fracture which leads to a wear transition to catastrophic wear rates.