Wear properties of ECAP-processed ultrafine grained Al–Cu alloys

The wear properties of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) Al–2, 3 and 5%Cu alloys under dry sliding conditions using different sliding distances and loads were investigated by pin-on-disc dry sliding wear tests. The wear mass loss decreased remarkably as the number of ECAP passes and Cu content increased, being affected more by the sliding distance than by the applied load under the experimental conditions. The wear mechanism was observed to be adhesive and delamination initially, and an abrasive mechanism also appeared as the sliding distance increased. The analysis of the wear surface indicates a transfer of Fe from the rotating disc to the Al–Cu alloy pin with increases in the sliding distance, the applied load, the number of passes and the copper content.