Improving the tribological characteristics of aluminum 6061 alloy by surface compositing with sub-micro-size ceramic particles via friction stir processing

    Authors

    J. Qu; H. B. Xu; Z. L. Feng; D. A. Frederick; L. A. An;H. Heinrich

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Wear

    Keywords

    Composite; Surface engineering; Friction stir processing; Wear; resistance; Aluminum; DRY SLIDING WEAR; REINFORCED ALUMINUM; MATRIX COMPOSITES; Engineering, Mechanical; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

    Abstract

    This study presents a solid state surface engineering technique for forming a composite surface layer on aluminum to improve surface hardness and wear resistance without sacrificing the ductility and conductivity of the bulk. Friction stir processing (FSP) was used to stir and mix sub-micro-size Al(2)O(3) and SiC particles into the surface of an aluminum 6061-T651 alloy plate to form an composite layer of up to 3 mm thick. The concentration of the hard phase was in the range of 20-30 vol.%. Compared with a non-processed aluminum surface, the FSP-formed composite surface exhibited substantial friction and wear reductions by 40% and 90%, respectively, when rubbed against a bearing steel. Post-FSP heat treatment afforded further enhancement of the wear resistance. Transmission electron microscopy revealed high matrix dislocation density in the composite surface that is believed to be largely responsible for such significant properties improvements. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Wear

    Volume

    271

    Issue/Number

    9-10

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article; Proceedings Paper

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1940

    Last Page

    1945

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000294590200093

    ISSN

    0043-1648

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