Study of Mechanical and Wear Behaviour of Hyper-Eutectic Al-Si Automotive Alloy Through Fe, Ni and Cr Addition

Abstract

Effect of Fe, Ni and Cr addition on the wear behavior of hyper-eutectic Al-Si automotive alloy has been studied. Dry sliding wear tests have been conducted using pin-on-disc wear testing machine under normal loads of 20N and constant sliding speed of 0.64 ms-1. Influence of Fe addition to the base alloy increases the wear rate due to the formation of needle beta intermetallics. Ni addition to the alloy does not impede formation of needle-like intermetallic compounds and has no positive effect on the modification of microstructure. Introducing of Cr to the iron-rich alloy changes the beta intermetallics into the modified alpha phases and therefore reduced the detrimental effect of iron. As a result it recovers the strength and wear properties of the experimental alloy. Wear test surfaces were examined by SEM and have shown that Cr added alloy improves wear resistance through mild and smooth abrasive grooves filled with oxides.

Keywords

• Hyper-eutectic Al-Si alloy
• wear
• worn surfaces
• SEM