Abrasive wear of 7075 Al/SiCp composite prepared by mechanical alloying

7075 Al alloy (Al-5.6Zn-2.5Mg-1.6Cu) and its composites with 5,10 and 15 vol% SiC particulate (SiCp) have been. prepared by hot pressing of canned and degassed Mechanically alloyed elemental powders. The wear behaviour of the base alloy and its composites in their T6 peak aged condition were studied by using disc-on-disc apparatus at a load of 14.7 N and 700 rpm. The weight loss, wear rate, specific wear rate and wear volume were analysed with respect to duration of wear and SiCp content. The wear rate of the 7075 Al/SiCp composite was found to be 70% less than the base alloy. The wear behaviour, wear track and surface roughness have been discussed in the light of particle size volume percentages of SiCp in the composite and the grit size of the abrasive powder.