Wear of spray deposited Al–6Cu–Mn alloy under dry sliding conditions

The dry sliding wear of spray deposited Al–6Cu–Mn alloy was studied as a function of applied load in the range of 5–400 N. The variation of wear rate with applied load was obtained, from which four regions can be observed. On the basis of observations and analyses on the worn surface, the worn subsurface, the wear debris and friction coefficient, wear mechanism in different regions has been identified. Two wear regimes, i.e. mild and severe wear, were displayed in the entire applied load range. The transition from mild to severe wear occurred at a critical load. Mild wear involves three regions in the wear rate vs. load variation, and the wear in each region was controlled by different wear mechanism. With increasing load, the dominant wear mechanism in the period of mild wear displays successively oxidative wear, delamination and subsurface-cracking assisted adhesive wear. Severe wear was operated by the adhesive wear mechanism and the wear debris was formed by the shear fracture of subsurface material of the pin. The transition from mild to severe wear depended on the strength of the material of the pin adjacent to the contact surface and the strain-induced shear stress created by applied load.