Corrsive Wear of Aluminum Alloy in Contact with Rubber

Abstract

Significant wear damage of the rim flange at the contact region with the rubber tire is one of serious problems in an aluminum wheel. In the present study, the fretting wear tests between aluminum alloy and rubber were carried out in order to understand the mechanism of this wear behavior. The fretting wear test in air atmosphere indicated almost no damage on the aluminum surface. The wear test with a 0.5%H_2SO_4 solution also showed no recognizable damage on the aluminum surface. However, the test with a 10% CaCl_2 solution, which is used as an antifreezing agent on roads, exhibited significant wear damage on the surface. This damage looked similar to that observed in the practical wheel. Though the dissolving ability of H_2SO_4 solution is further stronger than that of CaCl_2 Solution, CaCl_2 solution induced more significant damage under wear condition. It is considered that the wear damage of the aluminum wheel dramatically promoted due to mechano-chemical reaction.