Wear characteristics of NiTi/Al6061 short fiber metal matrix composite reinforced with SiC particulates

Ozgen Akalin*, K. Vefa Ezirmik, Mustafa Urgen, Golam M. Newaz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Wear characteristics of Al6061 composites, reinforced with short NiTi fibers, were investigated. The NiTi/Al6061 composite samples were fabricated using pressure-assisted sintering process in ambient air where the NiTi fibers are aligned unidirectional in the Al matrix. In addition, NiTi/Al6061 composite with 5 wt % SiC particulates and monolithic Al6061 and Al6061 with 5 wt % SiC particulates were processed in similar conditions. The wear tests were performed using a reciprocating tribometer in ball-on-flat configuration where the counterbody material was martensitic steel. The effects of fiber isotropy and SiC reinforcements on wear resistance were experimentally investigated in dry sliding. Wear properties of the samples were studied using an optical profiler and a scanning electron microscope analysis. The results showed that transverse NiTi fibers improve the wear resistance significantly. Samples with transverse fiber orientation show mostly abrasive wear, whereas, monolithic and parallel samples show adhesive wear mechanism. In addition, SiC reinforcements improve the wear resistance of the composite and the monolithic samples. Since the Al6061 matrix material is smeared onto NiTi fibers in a short period, all composite samples show similar frictional characteristics after certain period of running in dry sliding.

Original languageEnglish
Article number041603
JournalJournal of Tribology
Volume132
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • fiber orientation
  • NiTi wires
  • short fiber composites
  • wear mechanism

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