Wear resistance of a functionally-graded aluminum matrix composite

Aluminum-based functionally graded composites reinforced with aluminum diboride particles were manufactured by centrifugal casting. The centrifugally cast materials showed the segregation of diboride particles and higher superficial hardness and microhardness towards the outer region of the casting. Ball-on-disk wear tests showed the smallest wear volume on the casting external zones. (c) 2006 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.