Steel machining chips as reinforcements to improve sliding wear resistance of metal alloys: Study of a model Zn-based alloy system

Two new steel-reinforced, metal-matrix composites (MMCs), Kirksite + 1080 and Kirksite + M2 are developed by adding 25 wt% of AISI 1080/AISI M2 steel machining chips to a zinc-based alloy, Kirksite (4% Al and 3% Cu). The sliding wear resistance of the Zn alloy and the two MMCs, against AISI 52100 steel, is determined under increasing normal load (1-10 N) and temperature (25-150°C), using a pin-on-disc configuration. The MMCs are found to exhibit superior wear performance under all test conditions. At room temperature, a maximum wear reduction in excess of 70% is obtained for the composites relative to the Zn-alloy at the highest load of 10 N. This reduction is as much as 86% at 150°C and 1 N for the Kirksite + M2. The wear-reducing ability of the steel reinforcements is generally greater at the more severe contact conditions. The stability of the MMC matrices and recommended limits to the MMC operating temperatures are established using deformation measurements made via dynamic mechanical analysis. The principal wear mechanisms are analysed based on the sliding wear measurements, complemented by optical microscopy and SEM observations, and EDX microanalysis. The results show that the steel chip reinforcements are effective in improving the wear resistance of Zn alloys under severe conditions. Implications for use of low-cost machining chips as reinforcements to create MMCs for improved wear performance, and for recycling/reuse of these chips in advanced structural material systems are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.