Tribological self-repairing behavior in ATP/Al composites: An orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effects

The introduction of self-repairing functional materials effectively improves the tribological properties of metals by in-situ repairing of micro-damage on worn surfaces during friction. In this work, attapulgite (ATP)-reinforced Al matrix composites (ATP/Al) were fabricated via spark plasma sinterin...

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Main Authors: Z. Yang, Z.G. Xing, H.L. Yu, G. Jin, Y.L. Yin, Z.Y. Song, X.F. Cui, W. Zheng, J.T. Gong, F.Y. Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425015960
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author Z. Yang
Z.G. Xing
H.L. Yu
G. Jin
Y.L. Yin
Z.Y. Song
X.F. Cui
W. Zheng
J.T. Gong
F.Y. Zhang
author_facet Z. Yang
Z.G. Xing
H.L. Yu
G. Jin
Y.L. Yin
Z.Y. Song
X.F. Cui
W. Zheng
J.T. Gong
F.Y. Zhang
author_sort Z. Yang
collection DOAJ
description The introduction of self-repairing functional materials effectively improves the tribological properties of metals by in-situ repairing of micro-damage on worn surfaces during friction. In this work, attapulgite (ATP)-reinforced Al matrix composites (ATP/Al) were fabricated via spark plasma sintering (SPS) using natural ATP minerals and Al powder as raw materials. The tribological performance of ATP/Al-steel sliding pairs under oil-lubricated conditions was investigated using a three-level four-factor orthogonal experimental design on an SRV-IV tribometer. Comparative analysis revealed that the composite materials exhibited reductions of 15.38–66.87 % in friction coefficient, 21.6–54.68 % in wear volume, and 10.5–39.71 % in counterpart steel ball wear scar diameter compared to pure Al sintered counterparts. The order of importance that affected the friction-reducing performance of the composites was load, ATP content, sliding time, and frequency, whereas the order of the anti-wear property was sliding duration, ATP content, load, and frequency. The frictional mechanochemical effect induces the in-situ construction of a self-repairing layer, composed of binary and ternary metal oxides, ceramics, ATP phase transformation products, and graphite, on the worn surface. The in situ formed self-repairing layer exhibits dual functionality: (1) high hardness ensuring mechanical durability, and (2) shear-induced graphitization providing solid lubricity, synergistically reducing friction and wear across sliding interfaces.
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publisher Elsevier
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spelling doaj-art-9c98162aeaa5412eab56cd3ac32a69eb2025-08-20T03:27:05ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-07-01372512252710.1016/j.jmrt.2025.06.174Tribological self-repairing behavior in ATP/Al composites: An orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effectsZ. Yang0Z.G. Xing1H.L. Yu2G. Jin3Y.L. Yin4Z.Y. Song5X.F. Cui6W. Zheng7J.T. Gong8F.Y. Zhang9Institute of Surface/Interface Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Superlight Material and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China; National Key Laboratory for Remanufacturing, Army Academy of Armored Forces, Beijing, 100072, China; School of Printing, Packaging Engineering and Digital Media Technology, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710054, ChinaDepartment of Remanufacturing Engineering, Army Academy of Armored Forces, Beijing, 100072, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Remanufacturing, Army Academy of Armored Forces, Beijing, 100072, China; Corresponding author.Institute of Surface/Interface Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Superlight Material and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Remanufacturing, Army Academy of Armored Forces, Beijing, 100072, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Remanufacturing, Army Academy of Armored Forces, Beijing, 100072, ChinaInstitute of Surface/Interface Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Superlight Material and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China; Corresponding author.Institute of Surface/Interface Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Superlight Material and Surface Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Remanufacturing, Army Academy of Armored Forces, Beijing, 100072, China; School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, ChinaSchool of Printing, Packaging Engineering and Digital Media Technology, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710054, China; Corresponding author.The introduction of self-repairing functional materials effectively improves the tribological properties of metals by in-situ repairing of micro-damage on worn surfaces during friction. In this work, attapulgite (ATP)-reinforced Al matrix composites (ATP/Al) were fabricated via spark plasma sintering (SPS) using natural ATP minerals and Al powder as raw materials. The tribological performance of ATP/Al-steel sliding pairs under oil-lubricated conditions was investigated using a three-level four-factor orthogonal experimental design on an SRV-IV tribometer. Comparative analysis revealed that the composite materials exhibited reductions of 15.38–66.87 % in friction coefficient, 21.6–54.68 % in wear volume, and 10.5–39.71 % in counterpart steel ball wear scar diameter compared to pure Al sintered counterparts. The order of importance that affected the friction-reducing performance of the composites was load, ATP content, sliding time, and frequency, whereas the order of the anti-wear property was sliding duration, ATP content, load, and frequency. The frictional mechanochemical effect induces the in-situ construction of a self-repairing layer, composed of binary and ternary metal oxides, ceramics, ATP phase transformation products, and graphite, on the worn surface. The in situ formed self-repairing layer exhibits dual functionality: (1) high hardness ensuring mechanical durability, and (2) shear-induced graphitization providing solid lubricity, synergistically reducing friction and wear across sliding interfaces.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425015960AttapulgiteAluminum matrix compositesWearSelf-repairingTribological behavior
spellingShingle Z. Yang
Z.G. Xing
H.L. Yu
G. Jin
Y.L. Yin
Z.Y. Song
X.F. Cui
W. Zheng
J.T. Gong
F.Y. Zhang
Tribological self-repairing behavior in ATP/Al composites: An orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effects
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Attapulgite
Aluminum matrix composites
Wear
Self-repairing
Tribological behavior
title Tribological self-repairing behavior in ATP/Al composites: An orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effects
title_full Tribological self-repairing behavior in ATP/Al composites: An orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effects
title_fullStr Tribological self-repairing behavior in ATP/Al composites: An orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effects
title_full_unstemmed Tribological self-repairing behavior in ATP/Al composites: An orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effects
title_short Tribological self-repairing behavior in ATP/Al composites: An orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effects
title_sort tribological self repairing behavior in atp al composites an orthogonal experimental study on attapulgite mineral effects
topic Attapulgite
Aluminum matrix composites
Wear
Self-repairing
Tribological behavior
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425015960
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