Wear and scuffing resistances of eutectic aluminum-silicon alloys and aluminum-silicon based composites

The existing information in the open literature suggests that the eutectic Al-Si alloy may be one of the best candidate materials for the sleeveless automotive engine block application. Dry sliding wear tests have been conducted using the block-on-ring wear machine on the near eutectic Al-Si alloys (13.2% Si) with the same chemical compositions, in which two were as-cast alloys had needle-shape Si particles, and the other two T6 heat treated alloys had round-shape Si particles. The T6 heat treatment has efficiently improved the hardness of the Al matrix, refined the Si particles in comparison to the as-cast alloys. The reciprocating wear tests were performed on the as-cast alloys and the T6 heat treated alloys at engine operating temperatures and lubricated conditions. An systematic investigation of the effect of Si particle morphology and strength of Al matrix on the wear behaviour of the near eutectic alloys has been carried out using single pass scratch test supported by microhardness measurements, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), EDS and optical surface profilomety (Wyko) investigations. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-03, page: 1480. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2005