Tribological and drilling studies of a l b4c mica hybrid metal matrix composites

Abstract

The research on the metal matrix composites for the past twodecades, yields a good result in improving the hardness, strength and othermechanical properties, over its base material. On one hand, it is advantageousto have an addition of hard reinforcement particles in the base metal to form ametal matrix composite. On the other, it becomes challenging to prevent orreduce an increased metal cutting force, tool wear affecting the surfacequality, surface roughness, surface and subsurface deformation which is theoutcome of a reinforcement addition in the component. Hence, as a novelstudy, an investigation on the effect of mica particles, as a secondaryreinforcement and boron carbide particles, as primary reinforcement inAl6061/B4C/Mica hybrid composites is carried out. An investigationconducted are tensile test, wear test, drilling performance studies, drilledsurface roughness analysis, chip surface morphology analysis. newline