Wear Analysis of an Advanced Al–Al₂O₃ Composite Infiltrated with a Tin-Based Alloy

Abstract

In this study, a hybrid material is produced, and the effect of different loads varying from 40 to 60 N against an EN-31 steel counter disk on its wear behavior under dry sliding conditions at room temperature is studied. The tribological behavior is studied via the pin-on-disk method and analyzed using primary wear parameters, such as the coefficient of friction (COF), mass wear, and specific wear rate. The obtained results are compared with the results for B83 babbitt under the same wear test conditions. Microstructural observation with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is performed along with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) for chemical analysis conduction. The results from the wear experiments indicate that the hybrid material possesses a lower COF, mass wear, and specific wear rate as well as a higher wear resistance in comparison to the B83 babbitt specimen when subjected to the same test conditions. The results from the wear experiments indicate that by applying different loads of 40, 50, and 60 N, the hybrid material possesses a lower mass wear, specific wear rate, and COF specifically at a load of 40 N in comparison to the B83 babbitt specimen under the same test conditions. It was also observed that by increasing the load under dry sliding friction, the hybrid material increases its mass wear and specific wear rate.

Keywords

• Al–Al₂O₃
• tin-based babbitt
• tribological behavior
• mass wear
• specific wear rate