Comparative tribological analysis of Al-Fe-Si and Al-Fe-Cr based alloys

This study presents a comparative investigation of the tribological behaviour and microstructural characteristics of two different alloys, namely 77.3 % Al-1.8 % Fe-16.7 % Si and 54.1 % Al-12.8 % Fe-27.8 % Cr. High temperature alloys are fabricated by stir casting technique. Tribology analysis is conducted to assess wear, crack formation, and cavity zones for both alloys using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Additionally, optical micrography is employed to examine their microstructures. The results reveal significant differences between the two alloys, with the 77.3 % Al-1.8 % Fe-16.7 % Si alloy exhibiting higher Vickers hardness and superior wear resistance compared to the 54.1 % Al-12.8 % Fe-27.8 % Cr alloy. Optical micrographs confirm a well-defined grain distribution for the former alloy and a similar homogeneous microstructure for the latter.