Wear resistance of aluminium alloy and its composites reinforced by Al2O3 particles

Sliding wear tests on 10, 20 and 30 wt.% Al2O3 particles reinforced 2024 aluminium alloy composites fabricated by a vortex method were carried out by using a pin-on-disc abrasion test apparatus where the sample slid against SiC abrasive papers of 20 (600 grit), 46 (320 grit) and 60 μm (240 grit) under the loads of 2 and 5 N at the room conditions, and the effects of sliding distance, Al2O3 particle content and size, SiC abrasive grit size and wear load on the wear properties of the composites were systematically investigated. For determination of the wear mechanisms of the composites, the worn surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It has been found that the wear resistance of the composites was significantly larger than that of the aluminium alloy, and increased with increasing Al2O3 particles content and size, and decreased with increasing the sliding distance, the wear load and the abrasive grit size. The effect of Al2O3 particle size on the wear resistance was more significant than that of the particle content.