Effect of TiC Reinforcement on Wear Resistance of Magnesium Matrix Composite by FSP

Abstract

In the current study, wear performance of pure magnesium (Mg) and composite fabricated with titanium carbide (TiC) reinforcement is investigated under various loading and sliding velocity conditions. The Mg-matrix composite is prepared by friction stir processing (FSP) carried out at optimized values of process parameters. Sliding wear tests on Mg and friction stir processed (FSPed) Mg+TiC surface composite were done on pin-on-disc configuration. The consequence of the normal load applied and sliding velocity on wear behaviour of the two materials is evaluated by performing the tests at two normal loads of 6 N and 12 N and three sliding speeds of 0.5 m/s, 1.5 m/s and 4.5 m/s. FSPed composite found to exhibit an enhanced wear resistance as compared to that of pure Mg. To get an insight into the possible types of mechanisms for wear of the composites sample under varying load and sliding speeds conditions, the worn test specimens are subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM/EDS analysis revealed that oxidation, ploughing, trailing edge and 3-body abrasive wear were the predominant mechanisms for the wear of samples at a different set of experimental conditions. The tensile strength of the FSPed surface composite was found to be 25% higher than pure Mg. Wear resistance was found to increase by about 33%.

Keywords

• friction stir processing
• fsp
• wear behavior
• surface composites
• mg composites
• tic composite