Abstract
Research and/or Engineering Questions/Objective
For automotive parts under high speed rotation and high pressure environment, wear-resistant characteristic is necessary to avoid wear and seizure problem. For this purpose, new Al-Zn-Si-Cu alloy with complex microstructure of hard and soft particles, is designed and tested. This alloy is suitable for swash-plate inside the compressor for air-conditioning system.
Methodology
JMatPro, a simulation program based on thermodynamics of metallic materials, is used for designing the chemical composition of new alloy. Zn is used to make soft Zn-phase particles for self-lubrication, and Si to make hard particle of primary Si phase for wear-resistance. To test the mechanical properties and wear resistance, samples were casted using Gravity die-casting process. OM & SEM are used for microstructure analysis of new alloy.
KEYWORDS – Wear-resistant Al alloy, Low friction, Swash-plate, Al-Zn-Si-Cu alloy