The detection of subsurface zones in aluminium-based alloys 2017A and 6101A using a positron annihilation technique

This paper presents positron lifetime studies of the subsurface region in aluminium-based alloys 2017A and 6101A, the surfaces of which were exposed to dry sliding. In the case of the 2017A alloy, the total range of the subsurface zone below the worn surface detected using the positron annihilation technique was larger than 120 μm and this value was hardly affected by load and sliding distance. For the 6101A alloy, the subsurface zone ranged from 30 to 500 μm and depended on the applied load and only to some extent on the sliding distance. The obtained results are significantly different from the results achieved for pure aluminium, thus alloying has considerable effect on the subsurface zone formation. The positron lifetime depth distribution characterizing the subsurface zone was correlated with the microhardness profile.