Dry sliding wear of a powder metallurgy copper-based metal matrix composite reinforced with iron aluminide intermetallic particles

In the present study, dry sliding wear behavior of a powder metallurgy copper alloy matrix composite containing iron aluminide (Fe3Al) intermetallic particles was investigated using a pin-on-disk machine. A sintered copper alloy (Cu90%, Sn10%) was used as matrix. Reinforcement Fe3Al particles were prepared by mechanical alloying (42 h) and used as reinforcement (10 and 20 vol%) in the matrix. The processing of the composites included mixing and cold compaction followed by sintering at 850C. The influence of Fe3Al additions on the dry sliding wear behavior was studied at loads of 20 and 40 N at sliding distances of 2160, 3240, 4320, and 6480 m. The study showed that the composite exhibited lower wear rate than that of the matrix and the wear rate was influenced by the volume percentage of Fe3Al particles. It is understood that iron aluminide particle reinforcement has a beneficial effect on the wear properties by providing better support to the matrix. The wear mechanisms could be interpreted with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of the worn surfaces. © 2007 SAGE Publications.