Abstract

Dry sliding wear behaviour of unreinforced Al4%Cu and Al4%Cu – SiC composites was investigated. Composites containing 10-50 vol.% SiC were obtained via hot press by using Al, Cu and SiC starting powders. Wear tests were conducted by an oscillating tribometer having a 6 mm diameter alumina ball. 2 N load was employed and sliding span was 5 mm with a total test distance of 6 m. Wear tracks were examined by an optical microscope, track cross sectional areas were determined by a profilometer and wear rates were calculated. It was seen that the wear track formed on the unreinforced sample was much larger and deeper than the ones on the composite samples. Wear mechanism was suggested to be initially adhesive and then adhesive and abrasive. The wear rate of unreinforced sample was about 11×10^-3 mm³/N.m. Wear rate was seen to decrease abruptly with the addition of SiC particles into the matrix alloy. When 10 vol.% SiC was used, wear rate decreased to 1.5×10^-3 mm³/N.m. The lowest wear rate was achieved in the sample containing 30 vol.% SiC, 0.5×10^-3 mm³/N.m.