Tribology of Spray Formed Aluminium-Based Materials

The excellent properties of aluminium-based materials (aluminium alloys and their composites) such as high specific strength & stiffness, less wear, good elevated temperature properties, high damping capabilities, good electrical and thermal properties make them a promising candidate in automotive, aerospace, marine and sports sectors. These materials are often constructed by aluminium or an aluminium alloy reinforced with varied proportions of different types of particles, including ceramics, self-lubricating compounds, etc. Compared to the various fabrication processes, the spray forming process is an interesting process owing to the fast metal deposition and freezing producing the small size and segregation of the particles in the materials and enhancing the performance in terms of mechanical and tribological. This study provides an overview of the tribology of spray-formed aluminum-based materials in relation to various experiments and other factors.