Friction and Wear Properties of SiC/Al Composites by Pressureless Infiltration

SiC/Al composites were prepared with pressureless infiltration method. Using pin on disk tribometer, the influence of volume fraction and particle size of SiC on dry friction and wear properties of the SiC/Al composites were investigated. The wear mechanism of the composites was studied with the analysis of the worn surface by SEM. Wear rate of the composites decreased with the increase of the volume fraction of SiC. When mated with gray cast iron, friction coefficient and wear rate of the composites were greatly depended on the particle size, and they decreased with the increase of particle size. The wear mechanism of the composites was cracking of particles, peeling off of SiC particles, and surface plough.