Particle Size Effects of Silicon Carbide on Wear Behavior of SiCp-Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Composites

This article investigated the particle size effect of micro-sized SiC on the tribological behavior of SiCp-reinforced AZ91D Mg-based metal–matrix composites (MMCs). The Mg MMCs were prepared by the melt-stirring technique for wear tests. The hardness and coefficient of friction of Mg MMCs increases as particle size of SiC particle in MMCs increases, except for the hardness tendency at the region between particle size of 11 and 15 μm. The SiCp/AZ91D MMCs exhibit superior wear resistance under lower and moderate sliding condition. However, the effects of the SiC particle reinforcements on wear resistance are not as conclusive under severe sliding condition, since the matrix of MMCs were softened at elevated temperature under such a severe condition.