Investigation on Mechanical and Wear Properties of Zinc-Coated Steel Wires Reinforced Lm6 Aluminium Alloy Composites by Squeeze Casting

Abstract

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.

Experimental investigation on mechanical properties and wear characterization of Al‐Si12CulMg1 aluminium alloy reinforced with titanium diboride and boron carbide particulate hybrid composites using stir casting process

“…This may be attributed to the higher hardness of composites which reduced the weight loss as observed during the wear test. Similar results have been observed in other studies that cumulative weight loss of composites decreased with increasing wt.% of reinforcements and increased with increasing load [29,30].…”

Microstructure and properties of graphite-reinforced copper matrix composites

“…50 N) due to the higher level of deformation on the surface during dry sliding wear process [18]. Wear loss of composite materials reduces with the reinforcement material in the metal matrix because the reinforcing particles are effective to reduce the wear deformation [19][20][21]. Copper-graphite metal matrix composite fabricated by friction stir processing (FSP) has lower friction coefficient as compared with the pure copper sample.…”

Effect of Squeeze Casting on Microhardness and Microstructure of Al-3Cu-xSi Alloy

“…According to Gomes, the values of λ 2 decrease with the increase of the silicon content from 5.5% to 9%. This suggests that, during the growth of the primary branching, the higher solute lateral rejection in the alloy with higher Si content ends up to provoke an even greater degree of instability in the interdendritic region which favors the appearance of a greater amount of secondary dendritic protuberances, thus reducing secondary spacing 25 . Figure 6 shows the results of the secondary dendritic spacings as a function of the pressure for the compositions used in this work.…”