Tribological Characteristics and Wear Mechanisms of Hypereutectic Alloys

The A 390 (18% silicon, 1% copper Aluminum alloy) and a new designed friction material which could have a potential use in brake application have been studied on a pad-on-disk tribometer, where the pad was made of the friction material and the disk out of the hypereutectic alloy. An experimental study has allowed to optimize the formulation of the pad and the heat treatment of the disk material in order to get the best wear-properties (low wear, stable friction coefficient). Analysis have been used to understand the wear mechanisms, i.e. microstructural evolution and degradation of the material.