Wear behavior of lanxide Al2O3/Al composite

The sliding wear behavior of Al2O3/Al composite prepared by the Lanxide process was investigated. Either a carbon steel ring and a Si3N4 pin was selected as the counter face. It is shown that microporosity which is disadvantageous to the mechanical properties of the composite can provide better lubrication due to its oil content and the oil-feeding effect. Scanning electron microscopy observations and energy dispersive X-ray analyses described the influence of metal phases and porosity upon sliding wear of the composite, which leads to an initial discussion of the sliding-wear mechanism of Lanxide Al2O3/Al composite. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.