Effect of Al-10Sr Addition on Tensile and Wear Properties of 20 wt%SiC/A359 Composites

The Al-10Sr master alloy is used to modify the A359/20 wt% SiC composite, aiming to enhance its tensile properties and wear characteristics concurrently. This modification yields improvements surpassing those observed in pure A359 alloys, a phenomenon attributed to the preferential formation of Al-Si-Sr compounds adjacent to SiC particles. The results elucidate that the integration of SiC, serving as a wear-resistant phase, substantially augments the wear resistance of the alloy. Abrasion marks incurred from singular friction events are discernibly more superficial on eutectic silicon in contrast to the aluminum substrate. Furthermore, the metamorphosis of eutectic silicon from an elongated to a granular form mitigates stress concentrations. This morphological alteration is pivotal, enhancing wear resistance and diminishing the likelihood of particle detachment.