Wear resistance of δ-type alumina fibre reinforced Al-4% Cu matrix composite

The wear behaviour of Al-4% Cu alloy and its composite containing delta-type alumina fibres has been studied at room temperature and at 150 degrees C, using a standard pin-on-ring tribometer. The results show higher wear resistance and a lower coefficient of friction for the composite material as compared with the matrix alloy. Three wear mechanisms of the matrix alloy tested at room temperature were observed: oxidation-induced delamination, seizure and subsequent wear due to surface melting. At 150 C, however, the matrix wear is due to seizure and melting. In the case of the composite material, different wear mechanisms were found: at low loads, oxidation-induced delamination was predominant, changing to high-strain-induced delamination at higher loads up to 80 N; at high loads (beyond 120 N) sub-surface delamination was the prevailing mechanism.