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Microstructure–Wear Resistance Correlation and Wear Mechanisms of Spark Plasma Sintered Cu-Pb Nanocomposites

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Abstract

The dispersion of a softer phase in a metallic matrix reduces the coefficient of friction (COF), often at the expense of an increased wear rate at the tribological contact. To address this issue, unlubricated fretting wear tests were performed on spark plasma sintered Cu-Pb nanocomposites against bearing steel. The sintering temperature and the Pb content as well as the fretting parameters were judiciously selected and varied to investigate the role of microstructure (grain size, second-phase content) on the wear resistance properties of Cu-Pb nanocomposites. A combination of the lowest wear rate (~1.5 × 10−6 mm3/Nm) and a modest COF (~0.4) was achieved for Cu-15 wt pct Pb nanocomposites. The lower wear rate of Cu-Pb nanocomposites with respect to unreinforced Cu is attributed to high hardness (~2 to 3.5 GPa) of the matrix, Cu2O/Fe2O3-rich oxide layer formation at tribological interface, and exuding of softer Pb particles. The wear properties are discussed in reference to the characteristics of transfer layer on worn surface as well as subsurface damage probed using focused ion beam microscopy. Interestingly, the flash temperature has been found to have insignificant effect on the observed oxidative wear, and alternative mechanisms are proposed. Importantly, the wear resistance properties of the nanocomposites reveal a weak Hall–Petch-like relationship with grain size of nanocrystalline Cu.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the reviewers for constructive criticism, in-depth analysis, and fruitful recommendation. Overall, the authors are extremely impressed with the reviewers. It was a pleasure to go through the reviewers’ comments. The authors would also like to acknowledge the funding agencies, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, and CARE Grant, IIT Kanpur, for procuring the SPS facility at IIT Kanpur. AFMM, IISc Bangalore is thanked for facilitating the FIB characterization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, 208016, UP, India

    Amit Siddharth Sharma (Ph.D. Scholar, Visiting Researcher, Postdoctoral Researcher) & Krishanu Biswas (Associate Professor)

  2. Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    Amit Siddharth Sharma (Ph.D. Scholar, Visiting Researcher, Postdoctoral Researcher)

  3. Materials Research Center, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Bangalore, 560012, Karnataka, India

    Bikramjit Basu (Associate Professor)

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  1. Amit Siddharth Sharma
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  2. Krishanu Biswas
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  3. Bikramjit Basu
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Correspondence to Bikramjit Basu.

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Manuscript submitted March 31, 2013.

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Sharma, A.S., Biswas, K. & Basu, B. Microstructure–Wear Resistance Correlation and Wear Mechanisms of Spark Plasma Sintered Cu-Pb Nanocomposites. Metall Mater Trans A 45, 482–500 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-013-1965-7

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