Powder Metallurgy and Metal Ceramics, cilt.49, ss.289-294, 2010 (SCI-Expanded)
This paper reports the outcome of an investigation into the effect of Al 2O 3 content on the microstructure and wear properties of Al-Al 2O 3 metal matrix composites. The Al-Al 2O 3 composites are prepared by a mechanical alloying method using Al 2O 3 powders up to 20 vol.% as reinforcement. Alloying is performed in a vibration mill using a ball-to-powder ratio 10:1 and a milling time varying from 30 to 100 min at a rate of 710 Hz. The prepared compositions are cold pressed at 630 MPa with a single action and sintered at 560°C for 30 min under Ar gas atmosphere. The experimental results show that the reinforcing phase Al 2O 3 is homogeneously dispersed in the Al matrix and the interface between Al matrix and Al 2O 3 is well formed. Wear tests are carried out under dry sliding conditions using a pin-on-disk testing machine at three different loads of 10, 25, and 50 N and at a sliding speed of 2.08 m/sec. Total sliding distances are selected as 400, 800, 1200, and 1600 m. It is seen that the wear rate decreases with increasing Al 2O 3 content and sliding distance at a sliding speed of 2.08 m/sec. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.