Effect of vacuum infiltration temperature on the microstructure and tribological properties of honeycomb-filled tube-reinforced aluminum matrix composites

The purpose of this work is to optimize the penetration temperature to obtain 316L honeycomb-filled tube/aluminum matrix composite (HFT/AMC) with good wear resistance. Utilized selective laser melting technology to fabricate honeycomb-filled tubes as reinforcement for the composite material. HFT/AMC was prepared by filling aluminum into honeycomb-filled tubes under three different temperatures of 800°C, 850°C, and 900°C through vacuum infiltration casting. And performed tissue characterization and performance testing. Microstructure, hardness, XRD, and EDS studies showed that the composite materials generate intermetallic compound transition layers of over 100 μm, and the overall strength of the interface was improved. A large number of intermetallic compounds and honeycomb-filled tubes distributed in the aluminum matrix inside the cells jointly strengthen the aluminum-based material. Inspection of worn surfaces of HFT/AMCs revealed abrasive and oxidative wear as the main wear mechanisms. Considering the wear of the produced HFT/AMC under certain conditions, the most suitable infiltration temperature is 850 °C (wear rate: 0.52±0.16 [(mm3/N·m)×10-3]). This study confirmed that honeycomb-filled tubes can significantly improve the tribological properties of aluminum-based materials.