Enhanced tribological performance of AISI 316 stainless steel reinforced with sic particles by powder metallurgy

This study analyzes the use as reinforcement of different percentages (0, 2, 4, and 6, %vol) of ceramic silicon carbide (SiC) particles, in the tribological behavior of AISI 316 stainless steel, obtained through powder metallurgy process. Porosity decreases and material densification rise with increasing amount of reinforcement particles, once the material has been sintered. The diffraction patterns showed that in the metallic and ceramic phases are maintained in physical union, which confirms physical proximity, which is consistent with the conformation of the composite, as well as the decrease of crystallite sizes in the austenite, with the increase of reinforcement material, in response to compressive stresses in the more intense phase. The hardness of the steel increased from 69.15 HRF to 94.95 HRF, while the coefficient of friction and wear rate decreased from 0.692 to 0.151 and 28.72 µg/N.m to 0.12 μg/N.m, respectively. The reinforcement of stainless steel with ceramic particles in low percentages becomes a strategy that enhances the mechanical and tribological properties of traditional use.