Influence of heat treatments on the wear behaviour of an AA6092/SiC25p composite

In this work the wear behaviour of an aluminium alloy reinforced with 25% volume fraction of SiC particles is investigated. The optimum thermal treatment condition, in which the composite material presents the maximum hardening values, was determined. Samples were investigated by pin-on-disc tests at 5 N and 0.1 m s−1. The samples were studied by SEM–EDX techniques in order to determine the mechanisms of the wear and the determination of the products originated during the tests. Moreover, the mass loss for all tests conditions was evaluated by interferometric techniques (Bright Light). The highest wear resistance is obtained for T6 thermal treatment condition (heat treated at 560±0.5 °C for 3 h, quenched in ice water and ageing treated at 175±0.5 °C for 7 h).