DRY SLIDING TRIBOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SiC PARTICLE-REINFORCED ALUMINUM COMPOSITES AGAINST SEMI-METALLIC FRICTIONAL MATERIAL

The dry sliding tribological characteristics were investigated with self-made block-disk tester of SiC particle-reinforced aluminum composites and gray cast iron (HT250) against semi-metallic frictional materials. The experimental results indicate that the wear rates of SiC particle reinforced composites are much less (the wear rate of Al-10%Si/30%SiC(14μm) is about one third of that of gray cast iron) than that of gray cast iron which are commonly used to make brake disks, while the frictional coefficient is about the same. Based on the experimental results, the authors suggest that SiC particle-reinforced aluminum-matrix composite be one of the suitable materials for making vehicle-braking components.