The Influence of Surface Treatment on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of a Range of Aluminum Alloys

The tribological properties of a range of commercially produced aluminium and aluminium metal matrix composite alloys, including 2618, 2618 + 15wt% SiC, 6082, 7075, LM13, LM25 and 8090A have been investigated using standardised reciprocating dry-sliding tribometer tests against 1%Cr 1%C steel. The results were compared with similar work on thixoformed eutectic, and hypereutectic aluminium silicon alloys manufactured in the range 13wt% to 40wt%Si, in order to assess their potential for automotive applications. The influence of composition and hard anodising upon the wear life of these materials has been determined.

Analysis of the friction and wear data produced has highlighted improvements in wear resistance of the MMC and hypereutectic alloys compared to the unreinforced materials. The anodising response and hence tribological performance of commercially obtained materials was found to vary strongly with alloy composition.