Analyzing dry sliding wear behaviour of copper matrix composites reinforced with pre-coated SiCp particles

Metal matrix composites containing dispersion of hard ceramic particles in a ductile matrix are increasingly used for automotive, aerospace and structural applications. There is a need to generate data on wear performance of Cu-SiCp composites, which is directly useful as design parameter. This paper reports the modeling of dry sliding wear behaviour of Cu-SiCp (10-40%) composites. SiC particles were pre-coated with copper by a three-step electroless deposition technique. Copper matrix composites reinforced with 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% SiCp were made by powder metallurgy route. The compression test data was used to determine stress-strain relationship and relevant mechanical properties of Cu-SiCp composites. Dry sliding wear tests of Cu-SiCp composites were carried out using pin on disc apparatus with a typical experimental plan of simultaneous variation of load and sliding speed in the selected range. Experimental response data were analyzed by dimensional analysis method. An experimental model is proposed for Cu-SiCp composites; (Z)n = K-2(1/Xy)(K1), illustrating an important difference in sliding wear behaviour of single phase Cu base alloys and Cu-SiCp composites. The differential form of final dimensional equation gives comparative evaluation of dimensional constants K-1 and K-2 with Archards constant. The dimensional constants K, and K2 determined in this study can be used to evaluate wear performance of Cu-SiCP composites. The limitations of the model relevant to tribological properties of the composites are presented. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.