Tribological behavior of ZK60Gd alloy reinforced by SiC particles after precipitation hardening

•The effect of precipitation hardening on the tribological behavior of the ZK60Gd/SiC composite was studied.•The samples precipitation-hardened at 175 °C had the highest hardness values and the lowest wear rates.•ZK60Gd/10%SiC sample had the lowest wear rate among the unreinforced alloy and the composites.•Abrasive, adhesive, delamination, MML, and fatigue wear mechanisms were dominant for the composite samples.•The dominant wear mechanisms for the unreinforced samples were abrasive, adhesive, delamination, MML, and plastic deformation.