Dry Sliding Wear Behaviors of Iron Addition to Nickel–Aluminum Bronze Produced by Mechanical Alloying

Abstract

In this study, different amounts of iron are added to nickel–aluminum bronze produced by mechanical alloying and its effects on microstructure, hardness, and wear behaviors are investigated. Four different amounts of Fe (3.5, 4, 4.5, and 5 wt%) was added to Cu10Al5Ni alloy and mechanically alloyed for 60 min. After cold pressing (600 MPa), the alloy powders were sintered at 800 °C and cooled in furnace to room temperature. The samples were characterized with scanning electron microscope (SEM + EDS), X-ray diffraction and hardness and density measurements. Wear tests were performed using a block-on-ring wear testing device with 0.2 m/s sliding velocity, four different sliding distances (400–1600 m) and three different loads (10 N, 20 N, and 30 N). As a result of the studies, it was found that the hardness value increased, and the density decreased with increasing Fe amount. Cu10Al5Ni containing 5% Fe was measured with the highest hardness value (55.74 HV) and the lowest density value (7.72 g/cm³). Also, Fe- and Ni-rich κ intermetallic compounds were formed in the microstructure of the alloy. The wear tests showed that the alloy containing 5% Fe had the lowest weight loss and wear rate as well.