Influence of particle size and temperature on the wear properties of rutile-reinforced aluminium metal matrix composite

In the present investigations, LM13 aluminium alloy reinforced with 15 and 20wt.% rutile mineral of fine (50-75 mu m) and coarse (106-125 mu m) size range was prepared through stir casting technique. The microhardness on different phase of the composite was measured to check the interfacial bonding of particles with the base material. The wear properties of the samples were studied using pin-on-disc tribometer at high load (49N) with variation in temperatures from 50? to 300?. Wear results indicated that the composites containing fine size reinforced particles showed around two times higher wear resistance over a wide range of temperature than the composite-containing coarse particles. A transition in wear mode from mild to severe was observed above 200?. Wear track and wear debris were analysed to understand the nature of wear.