The scratch behaviour of aluminium composite coatings

Wear data obtained from single and multiple scratch passes, combined with the examination of the reinforcement-matrix interfacial structure by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and toughness measurements made on the reinforcement phase, wereused to evaluate the wear behaviour of aluminium-based composite coatings. Reinforcement properties such as reinforcement volume fraction (Vf ), size, interfacial bonding and toughness appear to be important variables in deciding the abrasive wear resistanceof composite coatings. Scratch testing appears to be a valuable tool in providing information regarding the nature of the reinforcement-matrix interfacial structure, which is a deciding parameter in the abrasive wear resistance of metal matrix composite (MMC)coatings.