Experimental investigations on the effect of heat-treatment parameters on the wear behavior of aluminum hybrid composites
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of most predominant heat-treatment parameters on the wear behavior of Al6061 hybrid composite reinforced with 10 weight per cent SiC and 2 weight per cent graphite particles.
Design/methodology/approach
The aluminum hybrid composite was produced using stir casting process. Wear testing of heat-treated samples was carried out using a pin-on-disc apparatus. Experiments were conducted by applying design of experiments (DOE) technique. The experimental values were used for formulation of a mathematical model. The wear surfaces of composite specimens were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Findings
The volume loss of heat-treated composite initially decreased with increasing aging duration. This was followed by the attainment of a minimum and then a reversal in the trend at longer aging times. SEM micrographs of the wear surfaces of the composite show that the wear mechanisms were abrasion, delamination and adhesion.
Originality/value
In this paper, the hybrid composite was produced using stir casting route, and its wear properties after heat treatment were tested using pin-on-disc apparatus. It was found that heat treatment had a profound effect on the wear behaviour of the developed composite.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the management and principal of PSG College of Technology for having provided all the necessary facilities and management and the Principal of Kumaraguru College of Technology who provided financial support to carry out this work.
Citation
Velmurugan, C., Subramanian, R., Ramakrishnan, S.S., Thirugnanam, S., Kannan, T. and Anandavel, B. (2014), "Experimental investigations on the effect of heat-treatment parameters on the wear behavior of aluminum hybrid composites", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 66 No. 4, pp. 545-554. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-06-2012-0050
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited