Influence of heat treatment parameters on the lubricated sliding wear behaviour of a zinc-based alloy

This investigation deals with the observations made pertaining to the influence of the duration of heat treatment (ageing) on the sliding wear response of a zinc-based alloy. The heat treatment comprised of solutionizing followed by artificial ageing for different durations. Partially lubricated sliding wear tests were carried out at a fixed applied pressure, speed and distance. The heat-treated samples attained less strength and hardness but more elongation over the as-cast one. The wear rate and frictional heating initially decreased with increasing ageing duration. This was followed by the attainment of the minimum and then a reversal in the trend at longer durations of ageing. The tensile strength and hardness decreased with increasing duration of ageing and became stable beyond certain ageing period while elongation followed a reverse trend. The response of the samples has been substantiated through the fractographic features and characteristics of wear surfaces, subsurface regions and debris.