Effect of composite volume fraction on impact wear properties of zirconium oxide toughened alumina particles/40Cr architecture composites

In order to study the effect of composite volume fraction on the impact wear properties of composites in architecture composites, the zirconium oxide toughened alumina particles(ZTA_P) 3D network reinforced 40Cr steel matrix composites(ZTA_P/40Cr architecture composite) with different composite volume fractions(35vol%, 50vol%, 65vol%) were fabricated by squeeze casting, which were subjected to no abrasives impact wear test with an impact energy of 1.5 J after quenching at 850℃ and tempering at 460℃. The results show that when the volume fraction of the composite area is 35vol%, 50vol% and 65vol%, the wear rates of the ZTA_P/40Cr architecture composites are 4.7×10⁻³ cm³/h, 3.4×10⁻³ cm³/h and 1.0×10⁻³ cm³/h, respectively. The wear rates of the ZTA_P/40Cr composite and the 40Cr steel are 13.41×10⁻³ cm³/h and 79.87×10⁻³ cm³/h, respectively. The wear resistance of the ZTA_P/40Cr architecture composite increases as the volume fraction of the composite area increases. Further analysis show that the impact wear mechanism of the ZTA_P/40Cr architecture composite includes abrasive wear and adhesive wear on the surface, mainly the adhesion of the matrix and the ploughing of the entire surface, as well as the fatigue wear of the subsurface, which is a blockage of materials caused by ZTA_P breakage and ZTA_P/40Cr interfacial cracking during repeated impact.