Effect of ceramic reinforced Al-3Mg composite fabricated by stir-casting and wear behavior

Abstract

The current research gives an insight on Al-3Mg, Silicon carbide, and graphite composite on wear behavior under dry sliding atmosphere. The stir-casting method is cost-effective way of producing composites was adopted. The ceramic reinforcement components like silicon carbide and graphite were added to Al-3Mg from 2-8 Wt. % with an increase in the step of 2wt. % to quantify its potential as better hardness & self-lubricating reinforcement in a dry sliding condition. Desired properties like the hardness of as-cast, density, tensile strength, the volume loss of specimen due to wear were evaluated. A wear test was performed on a pin-on-disc wear test rig to evaluate the tribology behavior of composites to establish the optimum wt. % of graphite for least wear rate.  The experimental results of the dry wear test reveal that with the addition of graphite, wear resistance was initially enhanced and descending further with 8wt. % of graphite particulates. The tensile strength & hardness of the hybrid metal matrix composites (HMMC’s) found to be slightly decreasing with an increase in Graphite 6wt. %.  The microstructure was analyzed using SEM. The inclusion of 6wt. % graphite composite leads to lower wear rate when compared to the base alloy.