Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tribological Behavior of TiAl Metal Matrix Composite Brake Disk with TiC Reinforcement Under Dry Sliding Conditions

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this investigation, the effect of TiC particulate reinforcement and sintering parameters on tribological behavior of TiAl metal matrix composite (TMMC) has been studied and compared with commercially conventional gray cast iron to evaluate the use of TMMC as brake disk material in an automobile. Three sample disks of TMMC containing TiC particulate reinforcement (D1-5 wt.%, D2 and D3-10 wt.%) were produced by the spark plasma sintering process. D3 compared with D2 was sintered at a higher temperature to evaluate the effect of SPS parameters on the wear characteristics of TMMC. All experiments were performed on pin-on-disk tribotester under a dry sliding condition with different loads (10-11.5 N) and sliding velocities (0.2-0.9 m/s). It is found that higher content of TiC increased TMMC hardness and density. XRD technique has been used to analyze the phase composition. Owing to the high sintering temperature, α-2 Ti3Al phase was formed which further enhanced the matrix anti-wear capability. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to capture the wear track and observe wear mechanism. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) has been used to analyze the tribofilm and wear debris. The results showed that the tribofilm for TMMC was mainly composed of metal oxides. Oxidation of Al and Ti due to frictional heat provides wear-resistant protective layer. Under almost all sliding conditions, TMMC, especially disk D3, exhibited minimum wear rate and stable friction coefficient, whereas gray cast iron exhibited lower and unstable friction coefficient as well as higher wear rate. TMMC has shown superior tribological characteristics over gray cast iron in terms of low wear rate along with stable and adequate friction coefficient which is necessary for braking operation and life of brake disk. However, further investigation on full-scale automobile conditions is needed for its practical application.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A.R. Rastkar and B. Shokri, A Multi-Step Process of Oxygen Diffusion to Improve the Wear Performance of a Gamma-Based Titanium Aluminide, Wear, 2008, 264(11–12), p 973–979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. C.X. Cui, B.M. Hu, L.C. Zhao, and S.J. Liu, Titanium Alloy Production Technology, Market Prospects and Industry Development, Mater. Des., 2011, 32, p 1684–1691

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. G. Cueva, A. Sinatora, W.L. Guesser, and A.P. Tchiptschin, Wear Resistance of Cast Irons Used in Brake Disc Rotors, Wear, 2003, 255, p 1256–1260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. H. Berns, Comparison of Wear Resistant MMC and White Cast Iron, Wear, 2003, 254(1–2), p 47–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. A. Daoud and M.T. Abou, El-khair, Wear and friction Behavior of Sand Cast Brake Rotor Made of A359-20 vol% SiC Particle Composites Sliding Against Automobile Friction Material, Tribol. Int., 2010, 43(3), p 544–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. H. Nakanishi, K. Kakihara, A. Nakayama, and T. Murayama, Development of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composite (Al-MMC) Brake Rotor and Pad, JSAE Rev., 2002, 23, p 365–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. P.J. Blau and H.M. Meyer, III, Characteristics of Wear Particles Produced During Friction Tests of Conventional and Unconventional Disc Brake Materials, Wear, 2003, 255, p 1261–1269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. H. Jang, K. Ko, S.J. Kim, R.H. Basch, and J.W. Fash, The Effect of Metal Fibers on the Friction Performance of Automobile Brake Friction Materials, Wear, 2004, 256, p 406–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. K.G. Budinski, Tribological Properties of Titanium Alloys, Wear, 1991, 151, p 203–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. H. Dong and T. Bell, Tribological Behavior of Alumina Sliding Against Ti6Al4 V in Unlubricated Contact, Wear, 1999, 225–229, p 874–884

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. X.B. Liu and R.L. Yu, Influences of Precursor Constitution and Processing Speed on Microstructure and Wear Behavior During Laser Clad Composite Coatings on γ-TiAl Intermetallic Alloy, Mater. Des., 2009, 30, p 391–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. T. Sun, Q. Wang, D.L. Sun, G.H. Wu, and Y. Na, Study on Dry Sliding Friction and Wear Properties of Ti2AlN/TiAl Composite, Wear, 2010, 268, p 693–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. A. Canakci, S. Ozsahin, and T. Varol, Prediction of Effect of Reinforcement Size and Volume Fraction on the Abrasive Wear Behavior of AA2014/B4Cp MMCs Using Artificial Neural Network, Arab. J. Sci. Eng., 2014, 39, p 6351–6361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. I. Hussainova, Some Aspects of Solid Particle Erosion of Cermets, Tribol. Int., 2001, 34(2), p 89–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. H. Fallahdoost, A. Nouri, and A. Azimi, Dual Functions of TiC Nanoparticles on Tribological Performance of Al/Graphite Composites, J. Phys. Chem. Solids, 2016, 93, p 137–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. K. Rajkumar and S. Aravindan, Tribological Performance of Microwave Sintered Copper-TiC-Graphite Hybrid Composites, Tribol. Int., 2011, 44(4), p 347–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. H. Kaftelen, N. Ünlu, G. Goller, M.L. Öveçoğlu, and H. Henein, Comparative Processing-Structure-Property Studies of Al–Cu Matrix Composites Reinforced with TiC Particulates, Compos. A, 2011, 42, p 812–824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. F. Akhtar, S.J. Aksari, K.A. Shah, X. Du, and S. Guo, Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, Electrical Conductivity and Wear Behavior of High Volume TiC Reinforced Cu-Matrix Composites, Mater. Charact., 2009, 60, p 327–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Couret, G. Molenat, J. Galy, and M. Thomas, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TiAl Alloys Consolidated by Spark Plasma Sintering, Intermetallics, 2008, 16(9), p 1134–1141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. H.Z. Niu, Y.F. Chen, D.L. Zhang, Y.S. Zhang, J.W. Lu, W. Zhang, and P.X. Zhang, Fabrication of a Powder Metallurgy Ti2AlNb-Based Alloy by Spark Plasma Sintering and Associated Microstructure Optimization, Mater. Des., 2016, 89, p 823–829

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. J. Lapin and A. Kilmova, Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Hardness of a Cast Intermetallic Ti-46Al-2 W-0.5Si Alloy, Kovove Mater., 2003, 41, p 1–17

    Google Scholar 

  22. A. Teber, F. Schoenstein, F. Tetard, M. Abdellaoui, and N. Jouini, Effect of SPS Process Sintering on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Nanocrystalline TiC for Tools Application, Int. J. Refract. Metals. Hard Mater., 2012, 30(1), p 64–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. N. Natarajan, S. Vijayarangan, and I. Rajendran, Wear Behavior of A356/25SiCp Aluminum Matrix Composites Sliding Against Automobile Friction Material, Wear, 2006, 261(7–8), p 812–822

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. D. Gultekin, M. Uysal, S. Aslan, M. Alaf, M.O. Guler, and H. Akbulut, The Effects of Applied Load on the Coefficient of Friction in Cu-MMC Brake Pad/Al-SiCp MMC Brake Disc System, Wear, 2010, 270(1–2), p 73–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. M. Djafri, M. Bouchetara, C. Busch, and S. Weber, Effect of Humidity and Corrosion on the Tribological Behavior of the Brake Disc Materials, Wear, 2014, 321, p 8–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. L.X. Cheng, Z.P. Xie, G.W. Lie, W. Liu, and W.J. Xue, Densification and Mechanical Properties of TiC by SPS-Effect of Holding Time, Sintering Temperature and Pressure Condition, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc., 2012, 32(12), p 3399–3406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. K.M. Tsai, The Effect of Consolidation Parameters on the Mechanical Properties of Binderless Tungsten Carbide, Int. J. Refract. Metals. Hard Mater., 2011, 29(2), p 188–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. R.K. Uyyuru, M.K. Surappa, and S. Brusethaug, Effect of Reinforcement Volume Fraction and Size Distribution on the Tribological Behavior of Al-Composite/Brake Pad Tribo Couple, Wear, 2006, 260(11–12), p 1248–1255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. H.S. Hong, The Role of Atmospheres and Lubricants in the Oxidational Wear of Metals, Tribol. Int., 2002, 35(11), p 725–729

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. A. Pribulova and P. Futas, Cast Iron Production and its Impact on the Environment, SGEM Conf. Proc., 2014, 5(1), p 121–128

    Google Scholar 

  31. C.G.E. Mangin, J.A. Isaacs, and J.P. Clark, MMCs for Automotive Engine Applications, JOM, 1996, 48(2), p 49–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51275370); Self-determined and Innovative Research Funds of WUT (135204008); the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2016-YB-017 and 2016-zy-014). Authors were grateful to Y.M. Li, X.L. Nie, M.J. Yang, S.L. Zhao and W.T. Zhu in Material Research and Test Center of WUT for their kind help with EPMA and FESEM.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Hassan Liaquat and Kang Yang have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Hassan Liaquat, Xiaoliang Shi, Kang Yang, Yuchun Huang, Xiyao Liu & Zhihai Wang

Authors
  1. Hassan Liaquat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaoliang Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kang Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yuchun Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiyao Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhihai Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaoliang Shi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liaquat, H., Shi, X., Yang, K. et al. Tribological Behavior of TiAl Metal Matrix Composite Brake Disk with TiC Reinforcement Under Dry Sliding Conditions. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 26, 3457–3464 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-2789-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-2789-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation