ABRASIVE WEAR, STRUCTURE, AND MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF Al–Al₂O₃ COMPOSITES FABRICATED USING VARIOUS MIXING MEDIA DURING P/M ROUTES

Abstract

The effects of mixing method during powder metallurgy (PM) routes on the abrasive wear behavior of Al–Al₂O₃p composite materials is investigated. For this purpose, starting Al powders with a constant volume fraction of 10% Al₂O₃p are mixed in a ball-mill, Turbula, and high-energy attritor. Block samples for wear tests are prepared by using the PM process. A pin-on-disc apparatus is used for determining the wear rate. Comparative analyses are based mainly on the wear results, hardness, microstructural evaluation of the samples, and sintering densities. It is established that the samples mixed in the Turbula attritor exhibite the highest density and the lowest hardness. It is revealed that the samples mixed with Turbula have the lowest wear rate, whereas those mixed in the high-energy attritor have the highest wear rate. It is established that the composites demonstrate their optimal characteristics in the samples mixed in the ball-mill attritor.