Wear behavior of Al-Fe-Cr-Ti alloy processed by additive manufacturing

Abstract

Al-based quasicrystalline (QC) phase former alloys present a high mechanical and wear resistance in combination with a low friction coefficient. These properties make it promising for applications in automotive and aeronautics engine parts. The formation of the QC phase requires high cooling rates, for this reason, QC alloys are usually obtained as powders and ribbons. Usually, engine parts have complex geometries and are manufactured by casting and/or machining, limiting the design possibilities. Recently, it was discovered that QC alloys are successfully processed by additive manufacturing (AM). By AM, the parts are constructed layer-by-layer, allowing them with complex geometries. So far, no study was performed to quantify the wear or even identify the wear mechanism that can act in the recycled Al-Fe-Cr-Ti quasicrystalline alloy processed by AM. This project aims to quantify the wear, investigate and understand the mechanism that operates for the wear of the recycledAl95Fe2Cr2Ti1 quasicrystalline alloy processed by AM in different building directions. Wear tests (pin-on-plate) will be performed in samples fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) in two building directions (0° and 90° concerning Z-axis). For each sample, the quantification of the wear will be measured by the variation of mass and volume. Besides, to identify the wear mechanism, analyses will be executed on the samples, pins, and debris' surfaces. In this step, confocal microscopy (CM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) will be used. (AU)