Friction and Wear Perfomance of WC Reinforced Aluminum Bronze Produced by EBAM Technique

The paper considers the process of creation of an aluminum bronze-based metal-matrix composite straightened with tungsten carbide particles by the method of electron-beam additive manufacturing. To create composites, a combined printing method with powder and wire material feeding has been used. The microstructure study showed that varying the printing parameters during the process has made possible to achieve a homogeneous distribution of particles of the strengthening phase in the matrix. Carbide particles undergo refining caused by the electron beam. The particles size of obtained composite is 4 times finer compared to the initial powder size. Dry sliding wear studies showed strong wear character and dependence of the friction coefficient on the hardening particles size.