The role of ceramic particle loading and the influence of hot extrusion on the tribological behaviour of aluminium alloy-SiCp composites

Abstract

Aluminium matrix composites (AMC) are gaining wide popularity in various sectors due to their excellent properties which are synergic. Apart from strength, wear resistance of a material is also an essential criterion for the number of applications. Extensive studies are being carried out on the secondary processing of these materials to enhance the suitability of the AMC for engineering applications. In this study, initially, Al 2014 base alloy and their composites with 5, 10, and 15 wt.% SiCp fabricated by stir casting route were subjected to wear test. Based on the encouraging wear performance, the Al-10 wt.% SiC composite was further subjected to extrusion. Pin-on-disc sliding wear tests on the as-cast & extruded base alloy and the composite samples were carried out at a constant load of 20 N for a total sliding distance of 1000 m with a velocity of 2 m/s. Microhardness and porosity measurements were carried out besides the study of wear performance, such as coefficient of friction and wear by weight loss. The worn surfaces were analyzed both by optical and scanning electron microscopes. The effect of particle addition, extrusion, porosity, and microhardness on the wear performance of the samples was discussed. Among the samples studied, the Al-10 wt.% SiC composite extruded at a ratio of 8:1 is found to have the highest wear resistance.

Aluminum Composite Materials Providing Extended Service Life

“…A similar dependence was observed in [18] but under different test conditions and a different matrix alloy. In [20], for AMC with a matrix alloy Al 2014, which is close in composition to the AK12 alloy, a similar picture was also observed: AMC with 10 wt.% SiC had the best wear resistance characteristics. The influence of the composition of the matrix alloy on the value of the volumetric wear is also traced (Figure 3b).…”

“…Friction and wear tests were carried out on an MI-1M testing machine of the "Amsler" type according to the "diskblock" loading scheme. Similar test schemes were used in articles [14]- [16], [18]- [20]. A disk made of 40X structural steel (analogue of steels 1.7034, 5140H, 40Cr, 38C4) with a hardness of HRC 45 ... 50 rotated at a speed of η = 300, 1,000 and 1,500 rpm, and an AMC block was pressed against the end surface of the disk with a constant force F from 70 to 300 N. The test scheme and the main dimensions of the samples and disk are shown in Figure 1.…”

“…An important requirement for such reinforcing phases is high technological compatibility with an aluminum matrix [1]- [3], [16], [21]. The use of carbide particles, including silicon carbide SiC, has shown itself to be quite good [16]- [20]. The most developed technology for obtaining antifriction AMCs are different versions of the method of liquid-phase mixing (introduction of reinforcing particles into the aluminum alloy melt) [14]- [22].…”

“…Researchers [20] obtained AMC samples with 5, 10, and 15 wt.% SiC for engineering applications by the method of stirring casting based on the Al 2014 alloy. In this study, the original base and its composites with 5, 10, and 15 wt.% SiC, made by the method of casting with stirring, were subjected to wear testing.…”

The role of MgO nanoparticles addition, and γ-irradiation on the microstructural, and tensile properties of Al-1100 alloy

“…Aluminum matrix composite (AMCs) reinforced with ceramics in the form of nanoparticles (NPs) attracts many researchers from all over the world. 1–5 This attention is owing to the urgent need of these AMCs in various industrial applications such as automobile, aircraft, and electronic packaging industries. 6 AMCs have an excellent combination of properties such as the light-weight, high stiffness, high creep, and impact resistance that satisfies the requirements of those applications.…”