A luminium matrix composites (AMC) are used in advanced engineering applications such as automotive and aerospace industries and lightweight high strength applications to fulfil the emerging industrial requirements due to their good mechanical and tribological properties. Al7075 reinforced with B 4 C composites produced by casting route showed the improvement in hardness and tensile properties [1-3]. Zhang et al. [4] reported that aluminium fly ash composites were manufactured by liquid reactive sintering powder metallurgy process with fl y ash particles as intensifying phases. It was found that increasing the volume fraction of fly ash particles increased the hardness, modulus and wear resistance of aluminium composites. Dinaharan et al. [5] investigated the

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Zinc-coated steel wires (1–5 numbers) reinforced in LM6 matrix composites have been prepared by squeeze casting process. Microstructure, hardness, tensile strength, ductility and dry sliding wear behavior of composites have been investigated by varying sliding distance and load. Fracture surface of tensile specimens and worn out surface of wear samples have been examined using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The results reveal that hardness of composites increased with increasing distance from matrix to steel wires. Maximum hardness values of 751 VHN and 611 VHN are observed in steel wire and at the interface of steel wire — aluminium, respectively. Tensile strength of composites increased upto 24% by reinforcing three steel wires in matrix. During the wear test, weight loss, wear rate and coefficient of friction decreased with increasing number of wires embedded in matrix and increased with increasing sliding distance and load. LM6 aluminium alloy reinforced with five numbers of steel wires decreased the weight loss upto 17% as compared to matrix under 40[Formula: see text]N load and a sliding distance of 2000[Formula: see text]m. Fracture surface of tensile specimen shows dimple formation in matrix and broken wires are observed in composites. Worn surface of composites shows fine grooves, whereas delamination is observed in matrix. In general, reinforcement of zinc-coated steel wires in LM6 aluminium alloy exhibited better mechanical properties and wear resistance compared to matrix.

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