Effect of fly ash and graphite addition on the tribological behavior of aluminium composites

Abstract

Abstract The present work discusses the wear and friction studies of aluminium graphite fly ash composite. Three aluminium composites, Al with 10 wt. % fly ash, Al with 10 wt. % graphite, and Al with 5 wt. % fly ash & 5 wt. % graphite were fabricated using the stir casting technique. A linear reciprocating tribometer was used to evaluate the wear and frictional behavior at two distinctive temperatures of 36 °C and 100 °C in dry and lubricated conditions. The aluminium with 10 wt. % fly ash resulted in the least amount of mass loss and coefficient of friction in dry as well as a lubricated condition at 36 °C, however, at a higher temperature of 100 °C the aluminium with 10% graphite exhibits the lowest mass loss and coefficient of friction value. It is concluded that for dry sliding conditions, aluminium fly ash composite could be used as a potential material for applications that are to be operated at room temperature and for high-temperature applications aluminium graphite composite is more suitable.