Influence of High-Pressure Torsion Processing on the Tribological Properties of Aluminum Metal Matrix Composites

The motivation for the current study was to improve the wear and frictional properties of Al, Al–Al(2)O(3), and SiC MMCs through HPT processing. The wear test using a tungsten carbide (WC) ball was carried out for different PM and HPT-processed Al and MMC samples. The effect of the sample processing methods on the wear rate, friction, and wear surface morphology was thoroughly investigated. The high hardness after Al grain refinement and reinforcement fragmentation through the HPT processing of the samples increased the wear resistance by 16–81% over that of the PM samples. The average coefficient values and variation ranges were reduced after HPT processing. The Al and Al MMC processing methods affected the wear mechanism and surface morphologies, as proven by the microscopic observations and analyses of the worn surfaces of the samples and WC balls.