Abstract
Porous hybrid preforms were fabricated by reactive sintering using the compacts consisting of SiC particles, Fe and Al powders. Squeeze casting processing was employed to produce the composite in which the matrix phase is Al-Si7Mg. The microstructural change and wear resistance of the composites were investigated in terms of an amount of SiC particles. The wear loss was increased with increasing the contact pressure in the alloy containing SiC particles coated with Cu. The most drastic change was found to the specimen tested at 2.5 MPa of contact pressure. Concerning the alloys containing SiC particles coated with Ni-P, a drastic increase in the wear loss exhibited at 2 MPa of contact pressure in those alloys containing 4 and 8 wt. % of SiC particles coated with Ni-P. In the alloy containing 16 wt. % a proportional increase in wear loss was observed to the change of contact pressure. With respecting to the sliding velocity, the wear loss of the alloy containing SiC particles coated with Cu increased at the initial stage of wear process and then decreased. Similar result was found in the alloys containing SiC particles coated with Ni-P. On the basis of the present results obtained, it was found that wear resistance of the alloys tested was improved to show in the order of the alloy reinforced by coated SiC particles > by uncoated SiC particles > by intermetallic compound without SiC particles.
