Investigation of bioceramics reinforced aluminium matrix composites for mechanical and tribological behaviour through experimental studies

Abstract

Composite materials generally consist of matrix which is the continuous phase and reinforcement which is a discontinuous phase. They are the combination of more than one material for obtaining better tailored characteristics. Major contribution of Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) can be found in industrial applications due to their advantageous characteristics like high strength to weight ratio, better wear and corrosion resistance and appreciable mechanical properties. Most of the recent investigations focused on ceramic reinforcement in MMC for the enhancement of properties like hardness, impact, wear and corrosion resistance. Automobile industries require the usage of wear resistant material in components like brake pad, brake lining and so on. But the usage of synthetic ceramics causes various problems to the environment which has to be analyzed and addressed by developing an alternative material for brake pads. Aluminium is one of the major chemical elements found in boron group with the atomic number of 13. It is insoluble in water under regular conditions. It is widely used in many applications such as aerospace industry transportation and structural materials due to its low density and good corrosion resistance. The unique applications of aluminium and its alloys specific are in components like pistons, cylinders, liners, bearings, clutches. Aluminium alloy 2219 (AA2219) is the most commonly used material for the construction of liquid cryogenic rocket fuel tanks. It has unique combination of properties such as its good ability to weld, high strength to weight ratio and superior tribological properties. Stir casting method is used to fabricate MMCs to have uniform dispersion of reinforcements within the matrix without agglomeration. Stir casting is suitable for manufacturing composite with up to 15 % volume fractions of reinforcement. Major contributing factors that are considered for stir casting are stirring speed, stirring temperature, stirring time, preheating time and preheating temp of reinforcement(