Comparative analysis on high temperature tribological behaviour of additive manufactured and cast AlSi10Mg alloy

In recent years, additive manufacturing (AM) of AlSi10Mg, a material widely used in the aerospace and automotive sectors, has gained considerable interest for its ability to produce intricate shapes with improved mechanical properties. This proposed study aims to experimentally assess the high-temperature tribological performance of as-printed AlSi10Mg and compare it with traditionally cast AlSi10Mg to determine its suitability for high-temperature tribological applications. Samples of AlSi10Mg were manufactured via powder bed fusion, followed by tribological testing at elevated temperatures (30 °C, 100 °C, 200 °C, and 300 °C). The performance of both printed and cast AlSi10Mg pins was compared against an EN31 disc. The microstructure, worn surface, and wear debris of both printed and cast AlSi10Mg were examined using XRD and SEM with EDX analyses. As the load and temperature increase, both printed and cast AlSi10Mg materials demonstrate an increase in wear rate and friction coefficient. The wear rate of printed AlSi10Mg decreased by 60% compared to cast AlSi10Mg at higher temperatures. There is a consistent trend in the coefficient of friction between printed and cast AlSi10Mg samples at low temperatures and loads. Abrasive wear predominantly occurs in both printed and cast AlSi10Mg samples at 30 °C within a load range of 10 to 20 N, while adhesive wear predominates in the same samples at temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 300 °C with an applied load of 30 N. At low temperatures, smaller wear debris is observed, whereas at high temperatures and under a load of 30 N, larger wear debris is observed for both cast and printed AlSi10Mg samples.