TITLE:
Development of Aluminium Based Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites for Heavy Duty Applications
AUTHORS:
M. Asif, K. Chandra, P.S. Misra
KEYWORDS:
Al-MMC, Powder Metallurgy, Powder Forging, Heavy Duty applications.
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.10 No.14,
November
25,
2011
ABSTRACT: The present study deals with the investigation of dry sliding wear behavior of aluminium
alloy based composites, reinforced with silicon carbide particles and solid lubricants such as
graphite/antimony tri sulphide (Sb2S3). The first one of the composites (binary) consists of Al.
with 20% Silicon Carbide particles (SiCp) only. The other composite has SiCp and solid
lubricants: Graphite + Sb2S3 (hybrid composite) at solid state. Both composites are
fabricated through P/M route using “Hot powder perform forging technology”. The density
and hardness are measured by usual methods. The pin-on-disc dry wear tests to measure the
tribological properties are conducted for one hour at different parameters namely load: 30,
50 and 80N and speed: 5, 7 and 9m/s. The tested samples are examined using scanning
electron microscope (SEM) for the characterization of microstructure and tribolayer on worn
surface of composites. The results reveal that wear rate of hybrid composite is lower than
that of binary composite. The wear rate decreased with the increasing load and increased
with increasing speed. The results of the proposed composites are compared with iron based
metal matrix composites (FM01N, FM02) at corresponding values of test parameters. These
iron based metal matrix composites are also fabricated by P/M route using ‘Hot powder
perform forging technology’. The comparative study reveals that the proposed composites
have lower friction coefficient, less temperature rise and low noise level; however they have
little higher wear rate. It is concluded that the hybrid composite has acceptable level of
tribological characteristics with blacky and smooth worn surface.