Studies on mechanical and tribological behaviour of particulate Aluminium metal matrix composites

Abstract

Particulate aluminium matrix composites are increasingly used in newlinevarious automobiles and aerospace applications since they exhibit isotropic newlineand improved physical and mechanical properties. In addition, they can be newlineprocessed through by conventional methods. Aluminium-silicon alloys and newlinealuminium-based metal-matrix composites are used in the manufacture of newlinevarious automotive engine components such as cylinder blocks, pistons newlineand piston ring inserts. Wear resistance of Al-Si alloys improved with newlineincreasing Si content up to a near-eutectic composition. Extensive newlineresearch has been done in the development of Al-Si/SiC composites with near newlineeutectic Al-Si alloys (A356, A359, Al-Si10, and Al-Si12) as matrix. newlineHowever, only few tribological studies have been reported on Al-Si10Mg newlinealloy composites (Al-Si10Mg/Al203 and Al-Si10Mg/Al203/MoS2p and newlineA360/17SiC and Al/17SiC/17B4C). In addition, aluminium metal matrix newlinecomposites reinforced with a solid lubricant (graphite, molybdenum disulfide, newlineetc.), hard ceramic particles (silicon carbide, alumina, boron carbide, etc.), newlineand short fibres show reduction in friction and wear compared to the matrix. newlineIn the present study, an attempt has been made to fabricate newlineAl-Si10Mg/SiCp, Al-Si10Mg/MoS2p composites and Al-Si10Mg/SiCp/MoS2p newlinehybrid metal matrix composites reinforced with Silicon Carbide (SiCp) and newlineMolybdenum disulphide (MoS2p using stir casting technique. SiCp particulates newlinehelp to impart higher specific stiffness, strength, and hardness, while MoS2p newlineparticles impart improved self-lubrication property. Density as well as mechanical properties such as tensile strength, newlinehardness of Al-Si10Mg/SiCp, Al-Si10Mg/MoS2p composites and Al- newlineSi10Mg/SiCp/MoS2p hybrid metal matrix composites were determined and newlinecompare with those of matrix alloy. Morphology of worn surface of the newlinecomposites as well as the fracture surface from tensile test were investigated newlineusing a Scanning Electron Microscope. newline