TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF SLIDING WEAR BEHAVIOR IN SIC WHISKER OR SICPARTICULATE-REINFORCED 6061-ALUMINUM-ALLOY COMPOSITE

The effects of applied load and temperature on the dry sliding wear be havior of 6061 aluminum alloy matrix composites reinforced with SIC wh iskers or SIC particulates were investigated using a hardened steel ba ll and a block of the composite material. The wear rate decreased as t he applied load increased. However, there was a critical load above wh ich the wear rate increased rapidly as the applied load increased. Tra nsitions in wear mechanisms occur below and above this load. From both the wear rate and the critical applied load, it was confirmed that th e wear resistance of the 6061 aluminum alloy was enhanced by reinforci ng with SiC whiskers or SiC particles, both at room and elevated tempe ratures. However, the temperature dependence of the critical applied l oad was almost the same for both 6061 Al and the composites, and the c ritical load decreased with temperature. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A .