Qualitative analysis of sliding wear behaviour of aluminium reinforced with 5wt% to 20wt% palm shell activated carbon (PSAC) was investigated using pin-on-disc wear testing machine. The composite specimens were fabricated by powder metallurgy technique. Wear testing was conducted at a load of 11N and a fixed sliding velocity of 150RPM. The characterization of the worn surface was conducted using OM, SEM with facility for EDX analysis. The wear rate was optimized at less than 5E10-5gmm-1 in the aluminu composite reinforced with 10wt% PSAC. The analysis of the surfaces indicate that the PSAC particles deformed, by sliding acting of the mating surfaces, as rigid asperity and squeezed out towards the surface film forming a soft interfacial film. The presence of this film was believed to be responsible for the low wear rate obtained at 10wt% PSAC reinforcement. Platic deformation of the matrix induces delamination in both the surface and sub-surface cracks resulting in large flaky debris. 

RTC 014