Synthesis Characterization and Performance Study of Aluminium B4 C Gr Composite In Mechanical Environments

Abstract

newline Aluminium is the most widely available metal that is cheap and has applications in varioustypesof manufacturing,structureandsportssectorsdueto itsgoodstrength- to-weight ratio.Its dominant ductile propertyneeds to betreatedso that it can be used in mechanical environments where wear and tear due to tribological conditions iscrucialalongwithfrictionmanagement.Al6XXXXseriesalloyfindsitsapplication invarious mechanical and engine parts having sameconditions. Effort has been madeto fabricate the hybrid composites having the increased hardness as a result of B4C inclusionandself-lubricatingpropertyofgraphite.Stir-castingsetupisusedto fabricate the hybrid composites having boron carbide as kept fixed at 4 %wt. and graphitebeingvariedas0,2,3.5and5%wtinAl6063.Thesamplesarefabricated into five categories i.e. pure aluminum, Al-B4C 4%wt., Al-B4C 4%wt.-Gr 2%wt., Al- B4C 4%wt.-Gr 3.5%wt. and Al-B4C 4%wt.-Gr 5%wt. To increase the wettability and homogeneous distribution of reinforcement in the metal matrix, K2TiF6 salt is used. EDAX, XRD and microscopic image analyses have been carried out forcharacterization, indicating the presence of B4C and Gr particles being homogeneous distributed throughout the metal matrix. The EDAX analysis was done for elemental composition depicting peaks of boron and carbon confirming the presence of boron carbideandgraphiteinthecompositewithintheelementalfabricationrange supportedbyspectrumanalysis.Digitalmicroscopicimagesofthefabricatedalso show thepresenceofB4Candgraphitebeinghomogeneouslydistributedthroughout the matrix. IZOD-test, Rockwell hardness test, density measurement and tribological study have been performed. Impact strength and hardness of the composite is seen to improveon inclusion oftheB4C and Gr particleswhen compared to thepure aluminiumsamplesduetothehinderingofcrackpropagationbythereinforcing newline newlineparticlesactingasabarrierinalloymatrix.SEMimagesofthefracturedspecimen face have been carried outto support the same.Tribological test have been carriedusingL25 orthogona