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Fabrication and tribological study of AA6061 hybrid metal matrix composites reinforced with SiC/B4C nanoparticles

Shubhajit Das (Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Yupia, India)
Chandrasekaran M. (Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli, India)
Sutanu Samanta (Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli, India)
Palanikumar Kayaroganam (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Sai Ram Institute of Technology, Chennai, India)
Paulo Davim J. (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal)

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology

ISSN: 0036-8792

Article publication date: 24 October 2018

Issue publication date: 25 January 2019

364

Abstract

Purpose

Composite materials are replacing the traditional materials because of their remarkable properties and the addition of nanoparticles making a new trend in material world. The nano addition effect on tribological properties is essential to be used in automotive and industrial applications. The current work investigates the sliding wear behavior of an aluminum alloy (AA) 6061-based hybrid metal matrix composites (HMMCs) reinforced with SiC and B4C ceramic nanoparticles.

Design/methodology/approach

The hybrid composites are fabricated using stir casting process. Two different compositions were fabricated by varying the weight percentage of the ceramic reinforcements. An attempt has been made to study the wear and friction behavior of the composites using pin-on-disc tribometer to consider the effects of sliding speed, sliding distance and the normal load applied.

Findings

The tribological tests are carried out and the performances were compared. Increase in sliding speed to 500 rpm resulted in the rise of temperature of the contacting tribo-surface which intensified the wear rate at 30N load for the HMMC. The presence of the ceramic particles further reduced the contact region of the mating surface thus reducing the coefficient of friction at higher sliding speeds. Oxidation, adhesion, and abrasion were identified to be the main wear mechanisms which were further confirmed using energy dispersive spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) of the worn out samples.

Practical implications

The enhancement of wear properties is achieved because of the addition of the SiC and B4C ceramic nanoparticles, in which these composites can be applied to automobile, aerospace and industrial products where the mating parts with less weight is required.

Originality/value

The influence of nanoparticles on the tribological performance is studied in detail comprising of two different ceramic particles which is almost new research. The sliding effect of hybrid composites with nano materials paves the way for using these materials in engineering and domestic applications.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank TEQIP II and NERIST for providing necessary financial assistance for carrying out the research work. The authors acknowledge the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) of IIT Guwahati and Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Centre (SAIC), Tezpur University for their valuable assistance.

Citation

Das, S., M., C., Samanta, S., Kayaroganam, P. and J., P.D. (2019), "Fabrication and tribological study of AA6061 hybrid metal matrix composites reinforced with SiC/B4C nanoparticles", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 71 No. 1, pp. 83-93. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-05-2018-0166

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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