Effects of heat treatment on the lubricated sliding wear behaviour of zinc-based alloy containing nickel under varying test conditions

Abstract

Abstract This investigation presents the observations made pertaining to the lubricated sliding wear response of a zinc-based alloy containing nickel over a range of applied pressures and sliding speeds. Properties studied were wear rate and frictional heating. The varying wear response of the samples under different material and test conditions has been substantiated through the features of wear surfaces, subsurface regions, and debris. The role of various microconstituents in the material and their specific features have been correlated with the observed wear behaviour of the alloy in different material and test conditions. The wear rate and frictional heating increased with pressure and speed. The data plots in general comprised initially low slope followed by a higher slope at larger applied pressures. Heat-treated samples performed better than the as-cast one except at the maximum sliding speed; a reverse trend was noted in the latter case. The study suggests the benefits of heat treatment in terms of improved wear response of the alloy under specific test conditions. Moreover, the wear behaviour of the samples for different material and test conditions could be explained in terms of the features of their microconstituents and the predominance of one set of factors causing improved wear behaviour over the other producing a reverse effect.