Effect of Reinforcement Coatings on the Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Al6061, SiC Particles, Gr Powder Hybrid Composites
Zakaulla1, A.R. Anwar Khan2, P.G.Mukunda3
1Mohamed Zakaulla, Ghousia College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
2Dr. A.R. Anwar Khan, Mechanical, Ghousia College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
3Dr. P.G. Mukunda, Mechanical, Nitte Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Manuscript received on November 25, 2013. | Revised Manuscript received on December 15, 2013. | Manuscript published on December 30, 2013. | PP: 86-90 | Volume-3, Issue-2, December 2013. | Retrieval Number: B2369123213/2013©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Aluminum matrix composites with Silicon carbide (SiC) and Graphite (Gr) particles are finding increased applications because of improved mechanical and tribological properties. Si C particles are used to increase the hardness of composite while Graphite acts like a solid lubricant. The present investigation deals with Dry sliding wear of an Al6061 reinforced with both Cu coated Si C particles and Cu coated Graphite powder. Copper coating improved the wetting of Si C and Gr by molten aluminum alloy during processing and then dissolved in aluminum matrix to increase the hardness and improve antifriction properties. The wear resistance of hybrid composites having reinforcements coated with Copper is better than that of composites with same content of uncoated reinforcements. Worn surfaces of the pins are analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscope to study the wear mechanisms and to correlate them with the wear test results.
Keywords: Electroless technique, Hybrid composites, Cu coated Si C, Specific wear rate.