Room-temperature dry sliding wear behavior of γ-Ni/Mo₂Ni₃Si metal silicide "in situ" composites

Ni-base solid solution (γ) toughened Mo₂Ni₃Si metal silicide "in situ" composites were fabricated with different volume fraction of Mo₂Ni₃Si primary dendrite uniformly distributed in irregular Mo₂Ni₃Si/γ eutectic matrix. Results of room-temperature dry sliding wear tests indicated that the composite with a medium volume fraction of primary Mo₂Ni₃Si phase possessed the best wear resistance by optimum combination of the unique mechanical property of Laves phase Mo₂Ni₃Si and toughening effect of ductile γ phase. The primary wear mechanism is microplowing and soft-abrasion of the interdendritic Mo₂Ni₃Si/γ and subsequent brittle fracture of the hard Mo₂Ni₃Si primary dendrites. Ductile γ phase provided good toughening effect to Mo₂Ni₃Si Laves phase during dry sliding wear process.