INVESTIGATION OF DRY SLIDING WEAR BEHAVIOR OF AL 7075–(SiC/TiC) HYBRID METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

Abstract

The main objective of present work focuses to investigate the tribological behavior of Al 7075 hybrid metal matrix composite. Al 7075 metal matrix composites has many potential applications especially in automotive and aerospace industries, due to their light weight to strength ratio and high wear resistance. The composite is fabricated using two step stir casting process by varying 5% to 15% volume fractions of Silicon Carbide and Titanium Carbide. Optical microstructure showed reinforcement distribution into Al 7075 matrix. The wear and frictional properties of the hybrid metal matrix composites was studied by performing dry sliding wear test using a pin-on-disc wear tester. Tribological behaviors were examined by applying different normal loads of 10[Formula: see text]N, 20[Formula: see text]N, 30[Formula: see text]N with different sliding velocities (1[Formula: see text]m/s, 2[Formula: see text]m/s, 3[Formula: see text]m/s) at room temperature without lubrication. Wear rate and coefficient of friction for different normal load and sliding velocities were plotted and studied. The micro hardness value of AST15 was higher by 18.8% than the AST0 Composites. The wear rate prediction indicated the wear rate for AST15 as [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm3/m as compared to AST0 which was [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm3/m. The wear rate increases with the increase in load and sliding velocities. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs of the worn surface are used to predict the nature of the wear mechanism.