Y. W. Mai

Wear of ceramic particle-reinforced metal-matrix composites

Pin-on-disc dry sliding tests were carried out to study the wear mechanisms in a range of metal-matrix composites. 6061-aluminium alloys reinforced with 10 and 20 vol% SiC and Al2O3 particles were used as pin materials, and a mild steel disc was used as a counterface. A transition from mild wear to severe wear was found for the present composites; the wear rate increased by a factor of 102. The effects of the ceramic particles on the transition load and wear with varying normal pressure were thoroughly investigated. Three wear mechanisms were identified: abrasion in the running-in period, oxidation during steady wear at low load levels, and adhesion at high loads. A higher particle volume fraction raised the transition load but increased the wear rate in the abrasion and adhesion regimes. Increase of particle size was more effective than increase of volume fraction to prolong the transition from mild wear to adhesive wear. The reasons for different wear mechanisms were determined by analyses of the worn surfaces and wear debris.

Fracture toughness and fracture mechanisms of PBT/PC/IM blend

AbstractThe static and impact fracture toughnesses of a polybutylene terephthalate/polycarbonate/impact modifier (PBT/PC/IM) blend were studied at different temperatures. The static fracture toughness of the blend was evaluated via the specific fracture work concept and the J-integral analysis. A comparison of these two analytical methods showed that the specific essential fracture work, We, was equivalent to the

Effects of pre-strain on plane stress ductile fracture in α-brass

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Slow crack growth in cellulose fibre cements

obtained by the ASTM E813-81 procedure, representing the crack initiation resistance of the material. The discrepancy between We and

Environmental stress cracking of glassy polymers and solubility parameters

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Thickness effect on fracture in high impact polystyrene

of ASTM E813-89 was caused by the extra energy component in