Fretting wear of Al–Si alloy matrix composites

Ball-against-disk type fretting wear tests for Al–Si alloy matrix composites in contact with bearing steel were conducted in wet air to investigate the effects of relative slip amplitude on friction and wear of the composites. In the larger range of relative slip amplitude, the Al–Si alloy-impregnated graphite composite (ALGR-MMC) shows lower friction coefficients than those of alumina short fiber-reinforced composite (ASFR-MMC) and hollow silica particle-reinforced composite (HSPR-MMC). Although the wear rate of the ALGR-MMC is higher than that of the ASFR-MMC and HSPR-MMC, the composite hardly causes damage to the mating material due to adhesion of compacted films of graphite powder and Al–Si alloy wear particles.