Main and interaction effects of matrix particle size, reinforcement particle size and volume fraction on wear characteristics of Al-SiCp composites using central composite design

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of matrix particle size, reinforcement particle size, volume fraction, and their interactions on the wear characteristics of Al-SiCp composites. Central composite design method was used to perform a series of experiments. The statistical analysis of experimental results showed that both main effect and interaction effect of factors investigated were effective on the wear behavior of Al-SiCp composites. Wear loss decreased as volume fraction increased; however, beyond volume fraction of 17.5%, it increased due to reinforcement particle clustering depending on volume fraction and matrix particle size to reinforcement particle size ratio. With decreasing of matrix particle size and increasing of reinforcement particle size, wear loss also decreased. However, after a certain volume fraction, large sized reinforcement particles had a negative effect on the wear resistance. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.