The Influence of Graphite Type on the Abrasive Wear of AlMg10 Matrix Composites

The presented work discuss the influence of various types of graphite additions on the abrasive wear of AlMg10 matrix alloy composites. Flake graphite, electrographite, and short graphite fibre were used as a composite reinforcement. Composites containing 10 vol. % of graphite particles were produced by mechanical mixing of the liquid alloy with simultaneous introduction of the reinforcement. Composite suspensions were gravity cast into metal moulds. The achieved castings were tested for the abrasive wear. Also the pure matrix alloy was examined. Microphotographs of the produced materials were taken, the specimens were also examined after the abrasion test by observing the microsections perpendicular to the abraded surface. The carried out experiments allow to state that even the little addition of graphite influences beneficially the tribological properties of composite under small loads applied to the frictional pair. It was found that under the increased load (30 N) the least abrasive wear is exhibited by the composite reinforced with graphite fibre, the largest one occurring for the composite reinforced with electrographite. The composite reinforced with electrographite, however, exhibited the mass loss less by 25% than the pure matrix alloy.