AbstractSliding wear tests on SiC particle reinforced 2024 aluminium alloy composites fabricated by a powder metallurgy technique were carried out, and the effects of SiC particle content, size, and the wear load on the wear properties of the composites were systematically investigated. It was found that the wear resistance of the composites was about two orders of magnitude superior to that of the unreinforced matrix alloy, and increased with increasing SiC particle content and size. Under the conditions of sliding wear used, the effect of SiC particle size on the wear resistance was more significant than that of particle content.MST/3161