The dry sliding behavior of aluminum alloys against steel in sheave wheel applications

The dry sliding behavior of various 2xxx and 7xxx aluminum alloys with and without nickel-aluminum bronze-coatings were evaluated for industrial sheav e wheel applications involving steel cables. In order to simulate the wear caused by a cable within the sheave groove, wear tests were conducted using a pin-on-ring wear test configuration. For these tests, the various alumin um alloys were worn against a 387 steel using an interfacial pressure of 13 .9 MPa anti a sliding velocity of 9.42 m/s. Results indicated that for the conditions studied, the 7xxx aluminum alloys exhibited a superior wear resi stance relative to the 2xxx aluminum allows with and without nickel-aluminu m bronze coatings. A wear mode analysis based upon optical and electron mic roscopy revealed material removal mechanisms dominated by adhesive and abra sive wear Moreover a statistical analysis indicated a potential relationshi p between wear rate and a combination of yield strength, solidus temperatur e and post-wear inverse hardness.