Experimental investigation on Mechanical tribological and Machining behaviour of centrifugally Cast in situ reinforced functionally Graded composites

Abstract

Industries are in continuous need of high-performance structural materials that provide greater strength at elevated temperatures and enhanced durability. Functionally Graded Composites (FGCs) are a unique type of Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) that has a gradient microstructure to offer enhanced properties across the thickness of the component. These composites are recently being used as automotive components such as transmission gears, cylinder liners, pistons, brake discs and pulleys. Further, the speciality of these FGCs is that property requirements can be incorporated into the matrix by careful selection and dispersion of appropriate reinforcements. Owing to their low density, aluminium-based FGC components including high thermal resistance and enhanced toughness are now being commercially manufactured. One of the promising techniques for synthesizing cylindrical shaped FGCs is centrifugal casting, where the composite melt is subjected to centrifugal force, which dictates the movement of reinforcements across their radial cross-section during solidification. The hard reinforcements can be either added externally into the melt or created inside the melt by chemical reaction between the elements present during the manufacture of FGCs. The former is generally called the ex-situ technique and in centrifugal casting it is named as Centrifugal Solid- Particle Method (CSPM), whereas the latter is called the in-situ technique, which in centrifugal casting is termed as Centrifugal In-Situ Method (CISM). Main emphasis of this investigation is to produce aluminiumbased newline