Analyzing the Effect of B4C/Al2O3 on the Wear Behavior of Al-6.6Si-0.4Mg Alloy Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

The current study deals with the development of a hybrid metal matrix composite and studies their wear characteristics. Suitable wt - % of Al2O3/B4C was reinforced into Al-Si-Mg alloy and the composites were fabricated using liquid metallurgy route. The developed composites were analyzed for their wear behavior by using a wear testing apparatus. Three process parameters including applied load, sliding distance, and velocity were chosen for carrying out the wear experiments. The influence of the reinforcement on wear rate was investigated through response surface methodology methods. The formulation of the regression equation was done and the effect of each experimental parameter was studied. Results from the investigation illustrate that the wear rate was found to decrease and then increase with the increasing wt-% of reinforcement and the wear rate was found to increase with an increase in the sliding distance but the wear rate was found to decrease with an increase in the sliding velocity. The worn-out surface of the hybrid composite was characterized using SEM.