Microstructure and tribological behavior of Al–TiC composite strips fabricated by a multi-step densification method

Abstract

This study aims to enhance the tribological properties of automotive applications by examining the effects of TiC content on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and wear behavior. This study investigates the production of Al-TiC composite strips using a novel multi-step densification process combining mechanical alloying and hot rolling with TiC concentrations ranging from 0 to 12 vol%. The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive approach to developing and analyzing Al-TiC composite strips using a multistep densification method. This study integrates microstructural analysis, mechanical property evaluation, and detailed tribological behavior assessment under different wear loads (5-25 N). A key innovation is the application of the Abbott Firestone method to analyze worn surfaces, providing insights into optimal wear conditions. The study reveals that increasing the TiC content to 12 vol% significantly improves densification, hardness (up to 268.8% increase), and wear resistance (up to 95% improvement at a 5N load). Dry ball-on-flat sliding wear tests at loads of 5-25N demonstrate that TiC particles hindered complete delamination wear in the composite strips. The Abbott Firestone method analysis of worn surfaces indicated an optimal exploitation zone in the Al-6 vol% TiC composite at both low and high wear loads. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights into optimizing Al-TiC composites for enhanced performance in automotive components that require improved wear resistance.