Effect of Load on the Tribological Properties of Eutectic Al-Si Reinforced n-Al2O3 under Dry Sliding Conditions

Abstract

Advanced composites are the materials of the new generation. Hence, the focus of the study is to determine the tribological properties of the eutectic Al-Si alloy reinforced with (2, 4, 6, 8, and10 wt. %) of n-Al2O3 against chrome-plated steel ball under dry sliding conditions. The novelty of this work is the fabrication of the composite sample with this elemental composition, which is not done before. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) nonconventional fabrication method is used to fabricate advanced composite samples. Friction coefficient (COF) and wear rate of the composite samples were studied under high load, varying from 50 N to 300 N, using the ball-on-disc tribometer configuration, with other parameters such as stroke, frequency, sliding distance, and sliding velocity remaining constant at 2 mm, 30 Hz, 120 meter, and 0.120 m/s, respectively. Reduction in wear volume for the advanced composite was reported in the range 15.45–44.58% compared to the base alloy (eutectic Al-Si alloy). An increase in friction coefficient was reported in the range 28.80–35.65% compared to the base matrix alloy material. It was also reported that the wear rate increases and the friction coefficient of the composite sample decreases with an increase in load for the tribo-pair. It was observed that an increase in the wt. % of reinforcement influences the friction and wear behavior of the composite. Wear mechanism at high load was characterized by plastic deformation, adhesion, delamination, and abrasion wear. For pre- and postcharacterization of surface and worn tracks, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) electron dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), 3D surface profilometer, and optical microscopy were used. This work aimed to investigate the influence of load on the tribological properties of Al-Si eutectic reinforced n-Al2O3 under dry sliding conditions. Its main objective was to provide a new contribution to the tribological behavior of these composites fabricated using the nonconventional spark plasma sintering method.