Dry sliding friction and wear behavior of woodceramics/Al–Si composites

Woodceramics/AlSi (WCMs/AlSi hereafter) composites were prepared by means of high-pressure vacuum infiltration of liquid alloy into woodceramics. The friction and wear behavior of WCMs/metal composites at various applied loads and sliding velocities was investigated by using a block-on-ring test at room temperature under dry conditions. Furthermore, the morphologies, phases and element valences of the worn surface and debris were observed, examined and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDAX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. In addition, load and sliding velocity dependence mechanisms of the wear and friction behavior of the composite and matrix alloy were discussed. Experimental results show that WCMs/AlSi composites have a topologically uniform interconnected network microstructure. Their tribological properties are improved dramatically, compared to those of the matrix AlSi alloy, due to the formation of wide, compacted surface carbon films. The wear mechanisms of WCMs/AlSi composites and of the matrix alloy vary with applied load from mild to severe wear.