Synthesis, microstructure and properties of TiO2 reinforced AA7075 matrix composites via stir casting route

The present work aims to investigate the effect of TiO2 content on the mechanical and tribological behaviour of aluminium alloy (AA7075) matrix composites (AMCs). The AMCs were produced by using stir casting method with varying weight percentages (0, 5, 10 and 15) of titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles. The microstructural characterization was carried out using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis (EDS) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. SEM images of produced composites evident the uniform dispersion of TiO2 particles in AA7075 matrix. The EDS and XRD pattern exposed that the presence of reinforcement particles in the AMCs. The mechanical properties such as, tensile strength, hardness, impact strength, flexural strength and compressive strength of the developed composites were increased up to 10 wt% of TiO2 addition in AA7075 matrix and then slightly decreased. Wear behaviour of the AMCs were studied by using pin-on-disc apparatus with varying applied load of 20 N and 40 N at a constant sliding speed of 2.35 m/s for a constant sliding distance of 1000 m. The tensile fractured image and worn surface morphology of AMCs analyzed using SEM and reported. The poor mechanical and wear properties was obtained for the AA7075-15 wt% TiO2 composite due to the agglomeration of the reinforcement.