Abstract
The microstructural and mechanical properties (hardness and wear resistance) of the metal–SiC composite formed on the surface of the cast Al alloy A-S7G0.3 by SiC particle injection assisted laser treatment were studied. The upper part of the laser treated zone had a very fine microstructure, characterised by needles of various sizes and high microhardness values (250 HV (30 g)) compared with that of the substrate (60 HV (30 g)). The SiC particles had partially reacted with the matrix. In the lower part of the zone, the SiC particles remained completely unreacted and had only mechanical adhesion with the matrix. Wear tests revealed that extremely high wear resistance (90 times higher than that of the untreated surface) was provided by this laser surface treatment technique when a load of 35 N was applied.
MST/1959
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