Effects of modification and heat-treatment on the abrasive wear behavior of hypereutectic Al–Si alloys

In the present study, Al–Si alloys with Si contents of 23, 26, 28 and 31 wt.%, respectively, were modified with a new modifying agent. The results show that the primary silicon size decreased about 8–10 times after modification. The wear rates of the modified and heat-treated Al–Si alloys are lower than those of the unmodified and non-heat-treated Al–Si alloys, respectively. The silicon content in the range of 23–31 wt.% has a significant effect on the wear rates of the same processed Al–Si alloys (modification and heat treatment). Under the same load, the wear rates of the same processed Al–Si alloys decreased with the increasing silicon content. The abrasion took place mainly by cutting and partly by ploughing actions for the non-heat-treated Al–Si alloys, or on the contrary, mainly by ploughing and partly by cutting actions for heat-treated Al–Si alloys.