Investigation of mechanical properties and tribological performance of Al-LSP and Al-Al₂O₃ composite

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to develop the Al-Si-Mg metal matrix composite, reinforced distinctly with lime stone powder (LSP; 12% by weight) and Al₂O₃ (12% by weight), and compare their mechanical properties and tribological performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The composites are fabricated through stir casting process. In view of the previous work, the Al-LSP composite with LSP reinforcement (12 Wt.%) shows enhanced mechanical properties and tribological performance, as compared with other weight percentages.

Findings

Though the Al-LSP composite is less expensive, it shows similar hardness, tensile strength and specific strength, when compared with Al- Al₂O₃ composite. However, the Al-LSP composite exhibits significant enhancement of above three properties, when compared with Al-Si-Mg metal. The systematic factorial design of experiments is obtained through Taguchi OA [L9]. The tribological performance is estimated through wear rate (WR-mm³/m) and coefficient of friction (CF) by varying the operating parameters of sliding distance (SD), load (L) and sliding velocity (SV). According to ANOVA results, the optimal condition of WR for all the tested materials is L1SD3SV1. Further, the optimal condition of CF is L1SD1SV3 for Al-LSP and Al-Si-Mg metal, while L2SD3SV2 is for Al-Al₂O₃ composite. The regression equation predicts the measured experimental values within error band of ± 8 percentage.

Originality/value

A comparison of two composite materials (Al-LSP and Al-Al₂O₃) with same weight fractions (12%) shows almost same trend in both the mechanical and tribological testing process. However, the developed Al-LSP composite exhibited better properties than the Al-Al₂O₃ and Al-base. Therefore, Al-LSP can be suggested for automotive applications (i.e., connecting rod, cylinder liners, camshaft) and structural applications (such as frames, over hanging supports), without compromising in desirable original with properties of constituents in the new material, which is achievable for looking to the end uses.

Citation

Dharmana, L. and Kambagowni, V.S. (2022), "Investigation of mechanical properties and tribological performance of Al-LSP and Al-Al₂O₃ composite", World Journal of Engineering, Vol. 19 No. 6, pp. 766-776. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-03-2021-0172