STUDIES ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF LM25/SiC/Al2O3 COMPOSITES

Abstract

This paper involves the study of mechanical properties and wear characteristics of LM25/SiC/Al2O3 hybrid metal matrix composites. Composite specimens of reinforcements ranging from 0 to 30 wt-% were fabricated using liquid metallurgy route. Mechanical properties such as hardness and tensile strength were analysed for both unreinforced alloy and composite specimens. Wear characteristics of composite specimens were studied using Pin-on-disc tribometer. Wear experiments were conducted with load range of 10 N to 30 N and velocity range of 1 m/s to 3 m/s. The sliding distance was kept 1500 m for all wear experiment. Worn out surfaces of composites were analysed using Scanning Electron Microscope. From experiments it was found that, the mechanical properties and wear resistance increased as the weight percentage of reinforcement increased.

Keywords

• Dry sliding
• Metal matrix composites
• Wear
• Aluminium composites