Overview of wear performance of aluminium matrix composites reinforced with ceramic materials under the influence of controllable variables

This paper summarizes the wear behaviour of Al-composites reinforced with ceramic materials. The influence of the mechanical parameters such as applied load, sliding velocity, sliding distance, temperature, and counterface hardness; and the material factors such as reinforcement type, size, shape and fraction, on the wear performance of Al-composites have been reviewed and discussed. It has been revealed that these parameters can influence the surface and subsurface behaviour of Al-composites during sliding wear conditions. It has also been observed that the ceramic reinforcements improve the wear resistance of the Al-composites under two-body abrasive or adhesive wear. However, the wear resistance of these composites is similar to the matrix alloy under intermediate load conditions due to three-body abrasive wear. Reduction in wear rate due to formation of oxide layers on the wear surface has also been reported in literature. Literature also reveals that the use of solid lubricant (Gr) particles and hard ceramic particles (SiC or alumina) as hybrid reinforcements can effectively improve the wear properties of the sliding system. The study indicates that the Al-composites especially the hybrid composite can be considered as an outstanding material for design of various automotive components, which require high strength and wear resistance.