Investigation on wear behavior of aluminium matrix micro and nanocomposites

Abstract

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) have a wide range of applications in aerospace, marine, and automobile because of their improved tribological and mechanical properties. In the present article, Al7075 alloy was used as the matrix material filled with micro (average size 50 μm) and nano (average size 80 nm) particles of Al<inf>2</inf>O<inf>3</inf> (alumina). The same quantity of weight fractions of micro and nano alumina particles were injected into the semi-solid state of Al7075 aluminum alloy by the mechanical stir casting process. The developed composites have been investigated for specific wear rate (SWR) by using Pin on Disc Tribometer. The results of nano and micro composites have been compared at similar combinations of input parameters. The normal load, sliding distance, and sliding velocity were the input parameter for analyzing the SWR. The result shows that SWR increased with an increase in normal load and sliding distance. It has been found from the results that SWR is inversely proportional to sliding velocity. Also, results indicate that SWR of the developed AMCs containing nano alumina was found superior to that of the micro composite and base material. © 2021