Wear of Al/Al3Zr functionally graded materials fabricated by centrifugal solid-particle method

In this study, Al–5mass%Zr functionally graded materials (FGMs) were fabricated by the centrifugal solid-particle method (CSPM) under applied centrifugal force of 30, 60 and 120G (units of gravity). Microstructural observation along the centrifugal force direction showed that Al3Zr platelet particles are almost oriented normal to the applied centrifugal force direction. Volume fraction of Al3Zr particles increases close to the ring surface. Moreover, this distribution range of Al3Zr particles becomes broader with decreasing the applied centrifugal force. The wear anisotropy of the fabricated Al/Al3Zr FGMs was strongly influenced by the platelet particles orientation at the test position. Investigating both of the worn surface morphology and the sub-worn surface layer showed that plastic deformation induced wear is the dominant mechanism during the wear process of Al/Al3Zr FGMs samples. Therefore, some of the tested samples were severely deformed and an Al3Zr particles-free layer containing Al–Zr supersaturated solid solution was observed very near to the worn surface during the wear test.