Mechanical and dry-sliding tribological properties of Fe3Al based composites reinforced by novel W0.5Al0.5C0.5 particulates

The mechanical and tribological properties of the Fe-15.88Al-5.46Cr (wt.%) based composites reinforced with 15, 25, 35 wt.% novel W0.5Al0.5C0.5 particulates (referred to FA15, FA25 and FA35), produced by hot-press sintering, were evaluated. The hardness of the composites increased with the W0.5Al0.5C0.5 content but the bending strength firstly decreased and then increased. The wear resistance of the composites was dramatically superior to Fe-15.88Al-5.46Cr alloy (FA0) without mass density gain. Interestingly, the wear resistance increased with W0.5Al0.5C0.5 concentration from 15 to 25 wt.%, but then slightly declined when W0.5Al0.5C0.5 content was up to 35 wt.%. It is also surprised that FA25 displayed the lowest friction coefficient, while that of other composites was much higher than Fe-15.88Al-5.46Cr alloy. These abnormal mechanical and tribological behaviors would be associated with the microstructure of the composites and the composition of the worn surfaces. The wear mechanism of the composites was abrasion and oxidation wear.