Friction stir processing as a method of modifying the structure and increasing the wear resistance of bronze-steel composites
摘要
Metal matrix composites with intermetallic strengthening phases have high mechanical strength, wear resistance and thermal stability, but their application is limited due to brittleness and complexity of processing. In this paper, the effect of friction stir processing (FSP) on the tribological characteristics of bronze-steel composites fabricated by electron beam additive manufacturing (EBAM) is investigated. It has been found that FSP leads to the formation of a finely dispersed structure with a uniform distribution of strengthening phases, which increases the microhardness from 2.0 to 2.8 GPa. Tribological tests show a decrease in the specific wear rate by 39% after three FSP passes compared to the initial material, despite a slight increase in the friction coefficient. Acoustic emission and vibration analysis reveals a change in wear mechanisms associated with the formation of a gradient structure. The results obtained demonstrate the promise of a combined approach (EBAM + FSP) for fabricating wear-resistant materials with improved performance properties.