Wear behaviour of Fe 3 Al intermetallic particle reinforced PM based iron metal matrix composites

Abstract

The wear behaviour of unreinforced and reinforced PM based iron metal matrix composite, the latter containing 10 and 20 vol.-% nano sized Fe₃Al intermetallic particles, was studied as a function of sliding distance under two different loads and dry lubricated conditions. The intermetallic Fe₃Al nanoparticles were prepared by mechanical alloying and used as particle reinforcement with 10 and 20 vol.-% in the matrix. The processing of the composites included mixing and cold compaction followed by sintering at 1120°C. The influence of Fe₃Al additions on the dry sliding wear behaviour was studied at loads 20 and 40 N over sliding distances 2160, 3240, 4320 and 6480 m. The study showed that the composite exhibited a lower wear rate than that of the unreinforced matrix and the wear rate was influenced by the volume percentage of Fe₃Al particles. It is understood that iron aluminide reinforcement has a beneficial effect on the wear properties. Delamination and microcutting were the chief mechanisms of wear for the composites.