Friction and wear properties of Fe–Si intermetallic compounds in ethyl alcohol

In this study, Fe–Si intermetallic compound disk specimens with some different compositions were prepared by spark plasma sintering and annealing, and their friction and wear properties were investigated when they were slid against SiC and Si3N4 ball specimens in ethyl alcohol. The Fe-70.5at% Si/Si3N4 and Fe-66.7at% Si/Si3N4 tribopairs exhibited the lowest and most stable friction coefficients of all the Fe-Xat% Si/SiC and Fe-Xat% Si/Si3N4 (X = 0, 33.3, 50.0, 66.7, 70.5) tribopairs. When the paired ball materials were the SiC, the Fe-70.5at% Si disk specimens exhibited the lowest friction coefficients 5 min after starting the friction and wear tests. The low friction coefficients of the Fe-70.5at% Si/Si3N4, Fe-66.7at% Si/Si3N4 and Fe-70.5at% Si/SiC tribopairs are thought to be due to the formation of silicon alkoxide on the worn surfaces of the disk specimens. In addition, the Fe-50.0at% Si disk specimen showed the highest microvickers hardness of all the Fe–Si intermetallic compound disk specimens.