Effect of SiC content on friction properties of SiC_p/Al composites

The SiC_p/Al composites were prepared by the powder metallurgy technology, and the influences of SiC particle mass fraction on the density, Brinell hardness, microstructure, friction, and wear of the SiC_p/Al composites were investigated. The results show that, a small amount of Al₄C₃ compounds can be formed on the surface of SiC particles, improving the bonding properties. With the increase of SiC mass fraction, the density of the SiC_p/Al composites has no obvious change, when the SiC mass fraction increases to 25%, the density decreases obviously. The Brinell hardness of the SiC_p/Al composites increases first and then decreases with the increase of SiC mass fraction. When SiC mass fraction is 20%, the optimal Brinell hardness is HBW 114 and the average friction coefficient can reach to the maximum as 0.3425, the surface morphology after friction is flat and shallow furrows, and the SiC particles has not obvious spalling.