Micro-Abrasive Wear Behavior Study of an Intermetallic Material—Fe–30Al–6Cr (at.%) Under Conditions of Room and Moderate Temperatures: A Comparison

Present work focus on research of tribological resistance of an intermetallic material (Fe–30Al–6Cr—at.%), seeking correlations between wear volume, friction coefficient and temperature. Abrasive experiments were performed with specimens of an iron aluminide alloy against AISI 52100 steel ball and abrasive particles of silicon carbide in glycerin. An individual study was done with respect to their characteristics in terms of SEM-EDS analysis. Different test conditions were defined and the abrasive slurry was, continuously, supplied between the specimen and the ball. Values of tangential force and normal force were acquired simultaneously, for “ball – abrasive particles – specimen” tribological system. Systematic studies of the occurrences of the micro-abrasive wear modes, friction and wear generated during tests were done. Moderate temperature favored a larger degree of plastic deformation than removal of material, reducing the wear rate and decreasing glycerin viscosity, which facilitated the movement of the abrasive particles and, consequently, reduced the friction coefficient. Wear volume presented a rising behavior with increase in sliding distance at room and moderate temperatures. Present research explored the potential of an intermetallic material as structural material subjected to moderate temperatures.