Wear characteristics of hybrid aluminium matrix composites reinforced with graphite and silicon carbide particulates

This investigation studies the dry sliding wear behaviour of Al matrix composites reinforced with Grand SiC particulate up to 10%, to study the effect of % reinforcement, load, sliding speed and sliding distance on stir cast Al-SiC-Gr hybrid composites, Al-Gr and Al-SiC composites. Parametric studies indicate that the wear of hybrid composites has a tendency to increase beyond% reinforcement of 7.5% as its values are 0.0242 g, 0.0228 g and 0.0234 g respectively at 3%, 7.5% and 10% reinforcement. The corresponding values are 0.0254 g, 0.0240 g and 0.0242 g in Al-Gr composites and 0.0307 g, 0.0254 g and 0.0221 g in Al-SiC composites, clearly indicating that hybrid composites exhibit better wear characteristics. Increase of speed reduces wear and increase of either load or sliding distance or both increases wear. Statistical analysis has revealed interactions among load, sliding speed and sliding distance in composites with Gr particulates. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.