Wear Behavior of WC–Cu Deposited ZE41A Magnesium Alloy Using Wear Mechanism Map

Abstract

The present investigation studied the dry sliding wear behavior of WC–Cu deposited ZE41A magnesium alloy under various parameters such as normal load, sliding speed and sliding time and the responses are wear rate and coefficient of friction. In this investigation, WC–Cu deposited magnesium alloy specimens were tested using pin on disc apparatus against EN31 steel disc. Wear mechanism map is developed for wear rate of the deposited magnesium alloy against normal load and sliding speed to identify the different wear modes such as mild, severe and ultra sever wear. Worn surface samples is assessed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscope (EDS) to confirm the different wear mechanism such as abrasion, oxidation, delamination and melting. Normal load is identified as the most dominant process parameter in this experiment. Magnesium alloy deposited using WC–Cu composite coating by EDC improved the wear behavior in the lower ranges of sliding conditions.