Role of silicon in resisting subsurface plastic deformation in tribology of aluminium–silicon alloys

• Published in: Tribology international Vol. 43; no. 1-2; pp. 381 - 387
• Main Authors: Mahato, Anirban, Xia, Shuman, Perry, Tom, Sachdev, Anil, Biswas, S.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alloys; Aluminium–silicon alloy; Applied sciences; Critical pressure; Deformation mechanisms; Exact sciences and technology; Friction, wear, lubrication; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Indentation; Inelasticity (thermoplasticity, viscoplasticity...); Machine components; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Physics; Plastic sinking; Silicon; Silicon particles; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Tribology; Aluminium–silicon alloy; Plastic sinking; Silicon particles; Silicon alloy; Aluminium-silicon alloy; Nanoindentation; Mechanical contact; Aluminium alloy; Metal; Surface alloying; Indentation; Modeling; Surface treatment; Inelasticity; Plasticity; Critical load; Subsurface; Tribology
• ISSN: 0301-679X; 1879-2464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2009.06.020

Silicon particles standing proud on aluminium–silicon alloy surfaces provide protection in tribology. Permanent sinking of such particles into the matrix under load can be deleterious. The mechanical response of the alloy to nano-indentation of single silicon particles embedded in the matrix is explored. A nominal critical pressure required to plastically deform the matrix to permanently embed the particle is determined experimentally. Within a framework suggested by two-dimensional models of plastic response to indentation, a probable correlation is established between the normal mean pressure required to cause permanent sinking of silicon particles and a factor which relates the relevant particle dimensions.