Tribo-induced amorphous/nanocrystalline layer improves the tribocorrosion resistance of SiCp/Al composites in 3.5wt% NaCl solution

The tribocorrosion damage behavior of SiC particles reinforced aluminum (SiCp/Al) composites poses a direct threat to their service reliability in harsh environments such as marine settings. In this study, five SiCp/6092 Al composites with varying SiC contents (0%-21%, volume fraction) were fabricated. The composite with 17% SiC achieving the best balance of tribocorrosion and mechanical properties, it reaches a tensile strength of 235 MPa and reduces the wear rate of the 6092 Al matrix under tribocorrosion conditions by over 80%. Analysis indicates that the remarkably improved tribocorrosion resistance is ascribed to the formation of an amorphous/nanocrystalline hybrid protective layer induced during tribocorrosion. Additionally, SiC particles enhance the shear resistance of the composite, thereby slowing the initiation of cracks on the worn surface. This work provides new insights for the compositional design of high-performance aluminum alloy components with synergistic tribocorrosion and mechanical properties.