Investigation of friction and wear behavior of hybrid aluminium composites

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this technical paper is to investigate the friction and wear behaviour of heat treated Al 6061 alloy and Al 6061 SiC‐graphite particulate reinforced hybrid composites subjected to different ageing durations.

Design/methodology/approach

The composites have been prepared by stir casting process with varying percentages of SiC and graphite particles. The cast 6061 alloy and its composites were subjected to solutionising treatment at a temperature of 803 K for 1 hr followed by quenching in water. The quenched samples were then subjected to artificial ageing for different durations of 4, 6, 8 hr at a temperature of 448 K. Tests were performed on heat treated Al 6061 alloy and its composites using pin‐on‐disc apparatus. Hardness measurements were also made on the specimens. The wear surfaces of the composites were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

During wear test of specimens the wear resistance of the hybrid composites was found to increase with increase in ageing durations. The microscopic examination of the wear surfaces shows that the base alloy and composites wear primarily because of abrasion and delamination. The hardness result shows that the hardness of the composites increased with decreasing weight percentage of graphite particles.

Originality/value

The content of this paper is fully research oriented and the finding from this investigation will be useful for society and also the automobile industries, especially in the making of brake drums.

Citation

Velmurugan, C., Subramanian, R., Thirugnanam, S. and Anandavel, B. (2012), "Investigation of friction and wear behavior of hybrid aluminium composites", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 64 No. 3, pp. 152-163. https://doi.org/10.1108/00368791211218687