Wear Behavior of Al-Ni alloys with Zr and/or Sc Addition processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) at Elevated Temperature

The Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) process is a potential process to enhance the mechanical properties of alloys due to an increase in microstructural homogeneity and the reduction of grain size. The advantage of ECAP at elevated temperature not only increases the flexibility of the process but also reduces the cracks and pits form casting process. Therefore, the objective of this research is to study the wear behavior of Al-Ni alloys with Zr and/or Sc addition processed by ECAP at elevated temperature. The ECAP process was conducted using route Bc at 120±5 ˚C for up to 4 passes. Then, wear behavior was studied by Ball-on-Disk technique at room temperature using AISI 52100 steel ball. The worn surface of alloys was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that after ECAPed the hardness of all alloys have been increased, owing to enhances the uniformity of microstructure, reduction in grain size, and accumulative strain. Moreover, the wear behavior of alloy is to change form adhesive wear to more abrasive wear and still exhibits delamination wear and oxidative wear for all alloys From this study, it can be concluded that ECAP at elevated temperature appears to increase homogeneity of microstructure, hardness of alloys and wear resistance.