Dry sliding wear response of zinc-based alloy over a range of test speeds and loads: a comparative study with cast iron

This study pertains to the observations made during the sliding wear response of a zinc-based alloy in different test conditions. The effects of sliding speed and load on the wear behaviour of the alloy have been studied. The properties evaluated were wear rate, frictional heating and coefficient of friction. The wear performance of the zinc-based alloy has been compared with that of a conventional cast iron in identical test conditions. The wear rate of the samples increased with applied load and sliding speed while the seizure resistance (load) deteriorated with speed. The zinc-based alloy exhibited less wear rate and reduced frictional heating than that of the cast iron while friction coefficient followed a reverse trend. Observed wear response of the samples has been discussed in terms of specific features like lubricating, load carrying, microcracking and thermal stability of various microconstituents of the samples, and substantiated further through the features of wear surfaces, subsurface regions and debris.