TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SILICON CARBIDE REINFORCED ALUMINIUM COMPOSITES
Keywords:
friction, Metal matrix composites, wear, aluminum, silicon carbideAbstract
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) represent a new generation of engineering materials in which a strong ceramic reinforcement is incorporated into a metal matrix to improve its properties including specific strength, specific stiffness, wear resistance, excellent corrosion resistance and high elastic modulus. In the present work, aluminum alloy – silicon carbide composites were developed using vortex method and pressure die casting technique. The dry sliding wear properties on aluminum alloy – silicon carbide metal matrix composite were carried out using a pin-on-disc wear testing apparatus at room temperature. The effects of normal load and sliding speed on tribological properties of the MMC pin on sliding with En 36 steel disc was evaluated. The wear rate increases with normal load and sliding speed. The specific wear rate marginally decreases with normal load. The coefficient of friction decreases with normal load and sliding speed. The wear and friction coefficient of the aluminum alloy–silicon carbide MMC is lower than the plain aluminum alloy.
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