Modeling the effect of temperature on the wear resistance of metals reinforced with ceramic particles Original Research Article

The wear resistance of a 2014 Al alloy reinforced with Al2O3 ceramic particles was studied as a function of temperature. The wear rate increased with temperature and a transition from mild to severe wear was detected above 170°C. A zone containing comminuted ceramic particles was found below the contact surface, and the thickness of this region was proportional to the wear rate in the whole temperature range. Three-dimensional finite element analyses were carried out to compute the stresses in the composite as a function of the distance to the contact surface. They were used to estimate the stresses acting on the ceramic particles and to calculate the thickness of the fragmented-particle region. The theoretical results were in agreement with the experimental data, and they illustrate the effect of temperature on the wear resistance of metals reinforced with ceramic particles.