Microstructure and wear resistance of a Cr-Cu-Si metal Silicide alloy

A wear resistant Cr-Cu-Si metal silicide alloy having a microstructure consisting of the primary dual-phase dendrite with a Cr₅Si₃ core encapsulated by CrSi phase and the interdendritic ductile Cu-based solid solution was fabricated by the laser melting process. Microstructure of the Cr-Cu-Si metal silicide alloy was characterized by OM, SEM, XRD and EDS. Microhardness was measured using a MH-6 semi-automatic Vickers micro-hardness tester. Because the wear-resistant metal silicide Cr₅Si₃ and CrSi have high hardness, strong covalent-dominated atomic bonds, and the ductile Cu-based solid solution has excellent thermal conductivity, low coefficient of friction and excellent ductility, the Cr-Cu-Si metal silicide alloy has excellent wear resistance under room temperature dry sliding wear test conditions.