High-temperature friction and wear properties of various sliding materials against aluminum alloy 5052

The friction and wear properties of Si3N4–8mass% Al2O3–6mass% Y2O3, AISI H13 steel, AISI 52100 steel, Inconel 600, ZrO2–3 mol% Y2O3, WC-6mass% Co and BN-50mass% Ni disk specimens sliding against aluminum alloy 5052 were examined at 823 K in air. The AISI H13 steel, AISI 52100 steel and BN–50mass% Ni disk specimens exhibited relatively stable friction coefficients as low as 0.4–0.5, although the AISI 52100 steel and BN-50mass% Ni disk specimens exhibited the largest volume increase and the highest specific wear rates, respectively. On the other hand, the AISI H13 steel, ZrO2–3 mol% Y2O3 and WC-6mass% Co disk specimens exhibited much smaller volume changes than AISI 52100 steel, Inconel 600 and BN-50mass% Ni disk specimens. However, the ZrO2–3 mol% Y2O3 and WC-6mass% Co disk specimens exhibited unstable friction coefficients and the friction coefficients as high as 0.6, respectively. SEM-EDS analyses revealed large amount of Al and oxygen on the worn surfaces of the Si3N4–8mass% Al2O3–6mass% Y2O3, AISI H13 steel, AISI 52100 steel and ZrO2–3 mol% Y2O3 disk specimens, while much smaller amount of Al and oxygen were observed on the worn surfaces of the Inconel 600, WC-6mass% Co and BN-50mass% Ni disk specimens. In addition, distinct oxygen peaks were observed on the worn surfaces of all the aluminum alloy pin specimens, but such oxygen peaks were hardly observed on the non-worn surfaces of all the pin specimens.

► AISI H13 steel, AISI 52100 steel and BN-50mass% Ni showed low COF (0.4–0.5).
► AISI H13 steel, ZrO2–3 mol% Y2O3 and WC-6mass% Co showed small volume changes.
► Oxygen peaks were observed on the worn surfaces of all the aluminum alloy pins.
► Oxygen peaks were hardly observed on the non-worn surfaces of all the pins.