Semi-solid Processing and Tribological Characteristics of Al-Cu Alloy

Abstract

In this paper Al-10Cu alloy was casted into rectangular blocks by using metal mold casting technique followed by warm working. Then the warm worked samples were annealed in semi-solid temperature region at temperatures 560. °C, 580. °C and 600. °C for different holding times followed by water quenching. Grain size distribution, hardness test and tribological test were carried out in order to study the effect of Strain induced melt activation (SIMA) process on tribological properties of the above alloy. SEM analysis of the wear surface was done after pin-on-disc test to study the mode of wear. In this way the optimum condition was found out for obtaining the best tribological properties of the above alloy by changing the morphology from dendrite to globular by using SIMA process. It was found that annealing at higher temperature for higher time period affect the grain size and the hardness of the material. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.