Effect of heat treatment on mechanical and wear properties of Zn–40Al–2Cu–2Si alloy

In order to determine the effect of heat treatment on the mechanical and wear properties of Zn–40Al– 2Cu–2Si alloy, different heat treatments including homogenization followed by air-cooling (H1), homogenization followed by furnace-cooling (H2), stabilization (T5) and quench–aging (T6 and T7) were applied. The effects of these heat treatments on the mechanical and tribological properties of the alloy were studied by metallography and, mechanical and wear tests in comparison with SAE 65 bronze. The wear tests were performed using a block on cylinder type test apparatus. The hardness, tensile strength and compressive strength of the alloy increase by the application of H1 and T6 heat treatments, and all the heat treatments except T6, increase its elongation to fracture. H1, T5 and T6 heat treatments cause a reduction in friction coefficient and wear volume of the alloy. However, this alloy exhibits the lowest friction coefficient and wear volume after T6 heat treatment. Therefore, T6 heat treatment appears to be the best process for the lubricated tribological applications of this alloy at a pressure of 14 MPa. However, Zn–40Al–2Cu–2Si alloy in the as-cast and heat-treated conditions shows lower wear loss or higher wear resistance than the bronze.