Dry sliding wear of aluminium composites—A review

Abstract Aluminium-silicon alloys and aluminium-based metalmatrix composites have found application in the manufacture of various automotive engine components such as cylinder blocks, pistons and piston insert rings where adhesive wear (or dry sliding wear) is a predominant process. Materials possessing high wear resistance (under dry sliding conditions) are associated with a stable tribolayer on the wearing surface and the formation of fine equiaxed wear debris. For adhesive wear, the influence of applied load, sliding speed, wearing surface hardness, reinforcement fracture toughness and morphology are critical parameters in relation to the wear regime encountered by the material. In this review contemporary wear theories, issues related to counterface wear, and wear mechanisms are discussed. Other areas of research relevant to adhesive wear of AlSi alloys and aluminium composites containing discontinuous reinforcement phases, such as the role of the reinforcement phase, are also presented.