Probability of Formation of Wear Debris during Initial Running-In Period of Sliding Wear of Al-Si (LM13)-10 wt.% Fly Ash Composites

In this paper, the effect of sliding distance on dry sliding wear behavior of LM 13 alloy reinforced with 10 wt.% fine fly ash particles was studied with special reference to the probability of formation of wear debris during the initial running-in period. The present test was conducted under varying sliding distance (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 m) at variable load 1, 2 and 3 kg and constant speed of 640 rpm. The worn-out surfaces were investigated under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that cracking of wear surface and formation of debris do not show any particular trend with sliding distance. The probability of formation of wear debris was calculated experimentally and also compared with Rowe’s theory of adhesion and fractal geometry model of wear prediction. SEM observation of wear surface suggested that the wear of material is controlled mainly by nucleation and propagation of cracks. The results clearly show that the mechanism of wear effected by the fracturing and work hardening of material.