Wear properties enhancement of aluminium alloy with addition of nano alumina

Abstract

The wear Behaviour of LM 25 reinforced with nano Al2O3, a nanocomposite with increased wear resistance is investigated. Strength and Stiffness is manufactured by Stir casting. Four different specimens of reinforced nanocomposite have been manufactured with the addition of nano alumina consisting of 99%LM 25+1% Nano Al2O3, 98.5%LM 25+1.5% Nano Al2O3, 98%LM 25+2% Nano Al2O3, 97.5%LM 25+2.5% Nano Al2O3 along with pure LM 25 aluminium alloy. Dry sliding wear tests were performed using PIN-ON-DISC tribometer apparatus and the wear performances were investigated under both loading and unloading conditions. Reinforcement of nano-sized particles with aluminium matrix yields superior mechanical and physical properties and changes morphology of nano-composites. The wear reduction is due to strong bond formation between Al and Al-Al2O3 nano composites. The results show that the addition of nanopowder in varying proportions influences the increased wear performance of the aluminium alloy and the maximum wear reduction is obtained with the addition of 2.5% Nano Al2O3, when compared with the results of pure LM25and other al-Al2O3 composites. The wear test is performed by sliding the fabricated Nanocomposite cylindrical pins against the steel disc at a constant sliding velocity in gravity loading and loading condition (i.e)500g load.

Keywords

• stir casting
• enhancing wear properties
• loading condition
• unloaded condition
• pin on disc tribometer experimentation
• al-al2o3 composite