Abstract
The wear behaviour of unreinforced and reinforced PM based iron metal matrix composite, the latter containing 10 and 20 vol.-% nano sized Fe3Al intermetallic particles, was studied as a function of sliding distance under two different loads and dry lubricated conditions. The intermetallic Fe3Al nanoparticles were prepared by mechanical alloying and used as particle reinforcement with 10 and 20 vol.-% in the matrix. The processing of the composites included mixing and cold compaction followed by sintering at 1120°C. The influence of Fe3Al additions on the dry sliding wear behaviour was studied at loads 20 and 40 N over sliding distances 2160, 3240, 4320 and 6480 m. The study showed that the composite exhibited a lower wear rate than that of the unreinforced matrix and the wear rate was influenced by the volume percentage of Fe3Al particles. It is understood that iron aluminide reinforcement has a beneficial effect on the wear properties. Delamination and microcutting were the chief mechanisms of wear for the composites.