Improvement in the resistance of aluminum with yttria particles to slidingwear in air and in a corrosive medium

Effects of yttria addition on the performance of aluminum during sliding we ar, friction, corrosion and corrosive wear were evaluated with the aim at e nhancing Al alloys against corrosive wear using compounds of oxy.-en-active elements. The sliding wear and friction tests were performed in air and in a dilute HNO3 Solution on a pin-on-disc tribometer. Worn surfaces were exa mined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties, incl uding micro-hardness and elastic modulus, of the Y2O3-containing aluminum w ere determined using nano/micro-indentation instruments. The performance of the Y2O3-containing aluminum was compared to those of Y-containing aluminu m, pure aluminum and 6061 Al alloy. The experimental results showed that yt tria considerably improved the resistance of aluminum to corrosion, corrosi ve wear and dry sliding wear, respectively. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.