Fretting wear behavior of AZ91D and AM60B magnesium alloys

The fretting wear behavior of the AZ91D and AM60B magnesium alloys are investigated using a reciprocating fretting wear machine under dry conditions with different numbers of cycles, different normal loads, slip amplitudes and frequencies. The worn surfaces and wear debris were examined using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy in order to understand the predominant wear mechanisms of two magnesium alloys. The results indicate that the AZ91D alloy displays a lower friction coefficient and lower wear quantity than the AM60B alloy. The AZ91D shows a higher capability than AM60B in resisting crack nucleation and propagation. Both AZ91D and AM60B show similar friction and wear characteristics. The wear quantity increases with increasing normal load, but decreases with increasing frequency. The friction coefficient also decreases as the normal load is increased. Fretting frequency had little effect on the friction coefficient. In a long term, the fatigue wear and abrasive wear were the predominant wear mechanisms for AM60B and delamination wear, adhesive wear and abrasive wear for AZ91D.