Wear properties of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with SiO₂ particles

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the wear resistance and tribological properties of magnesium and its alloys in order to apply them to the friction components.

Design/methodology/approach

Wear test, microhardness measurements, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), optical and electron microscopy examinations were applied.

Findings

The ceramic SiO₂, which has different particle‐sized reinforced pure Mg‐SiO₂ composites, is produced by powder metallurgy using high ball milling, pressing and sintering. Mg₂Si and MgO intermetallic phases produced by powder metallurgy in the Mg‐SiO₂ composite are dispersed as homogeneous into the Mg matrix. Mg‐SiO₂ composites exhibited a lower wear rate than the unreinforced pure magnesium specimens. Despite the pure Mg, the wear resistance of the composite is 61 per cent and the wear volume decrease with reducing SiO₂ particle size. The hardness of the composite is increased in a ratio of 70 per cent with the distribution of the Mg₂Si and MgO phases into the Mg matrix.

Practical implications

In this paper, pure Mg powder with purity of 99.9 per cent and SiO₂ powders with a mean particle size of −500, −250, −125, −75 and −10 μm are mixed by mechanical alloying. The wear behaviour of Mg‐SiO₂ composite, with the different particle‐sized composites dispersed with Mg₂Si and MgO intermetallic phases under dry friction condition is studied. The microstructural and mechanical properties of composite material samples are determined by differential scanning calorimeter, XRD, microhardness, optical and scanning electron microscopy tests.

Originality/value

SiO₂ particles distributed in the matrix are effective to improve hardness and wear resistance when contacting counter materials. In the present study, the magnesium powders with different particle size SiO₂ powders are mechanically alloyed with a Turbola Spex 80000 mixer.

Citation

Aydin, M. and Findik, F. (2010), "Wear properties of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with SiO₂ particles", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 62 No. 4, pp. 232-237. https://doi.org/10.1108/00368791011051099