Effect of Reinforcement Volume Fraction on the Wear Behavior of Al-SiCp Composites Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering

Most investigations on MMCs were carried out using conventional methods. Employing a different approach, this study concentrated on compaction, hardness and wear behavior of Al-SiC composites with different reinforcement volume fractions (5-15%) by spark plasma sintering method. Hardness and density test results of the composite samples used in this study were significantly higher than conventionally produced composites. Such increase in density and hardness resulted in lower wear rate. To study the effect of applied load on samples wear behavior, wear tests were carried out under 1, 3 and 10 N loads with 0.07 m/s sliding rate. Results revealed that in all the applied loads, composite samples had lower wear rates and lower friction coefficients than those of unreinforced aluminum. Conversely, increase in volume fraction of reinforcement particles led to decrease in wear rates and friction coefficients of the composite specimens which were more tangible in Al-15%SiC sample. Obtained data showed that by increasing the applied load, friction coefficient and wear rate increased in all the samples. Also dominant wear mechanism was determined using SEM micrographs of sample surfaces after wear tests.