Sliding temperature and wear behaviour of cast Al–Si–Mg alloys

In present paper the influence of sliding interface temperature on friction and wear behaviour of cast Al–(4–20%) Si–0.3% Mg has been reported. Wear and friction tests were performed under dry sliding conditions using pin on disc type of friction and wear monitor with the data acquisition system conforming to ASTM G99 standard. It was found that sliding interface temperature has close relation with wear and friction response of these alloys. Initial rise in interface temperature reduces the wear rate and as soon as a critical temperature (CT) is crossed, wear rate abruptly increases in case of all the compositions used in this investigation. Friction coefficient during the sliding of all aluminium alloys (irrespective of silicon content) first decreases with the rise in interface temperature and then abruptly increases beyond certain critical temperature. Critical temperature was found to be a function of alloy composition, i.e. silicon content. Hypoeutectic alloys showed lower critical temperature than the hypereutectic alloys.