The authors have found high aluminum zinc base casting alloys having superior mechanical properties in previous studies. This paper reports on the wear resistance of these alloys, particularly on the effects of aluminum contents, copper additions, additions of small amounts of other elements such as Si, Mg, Ni, Ti, Zr, Mn, Cr and V, and heat-treatment conditions. The wear tests were obtained using a OGOSHI type speedy wear testing machine for these alloys. The results are summarized as follows: (1) In zinc-aluminum binary alloys, as the aluminum content increases, the wear resistance slightly improves, but the partial welding phenomenon (scuffing) appears in all alloys as the friction speed increases. (2) By adding copper, the wear resistance considerably improves. It is best when the copper content is in the range of 1 to 5%. Especially, for the alloys containing more than 3% copper, the wear is not significant with the friction speed in the higher speed range. (3) Comparing with the commercial copper base bearing metals, high aluminum zinc base casting alloys containing copper, e.g. Zn-22%Al-3%Cu, have superior wear resistance. (4) By adding small amounts of silicon, manganese and titanium to the above mentioned Zn-Al-Cu system, the wear resistance somewhat improves. However, the wear resistance improves extremely by the addition of silicon and magnesium at the same time. (5) The wear resistance of these alloys is greater when there is a heat-treatment of 24 hours at 350°C followed by air cooling.
View full abstract