Wear and Mechanical Behaviour of Hypo-Eutectic Al-7%Si-0.5%Mg Alloy (A357) Reinforced with Al₂O₃ Particles

Abstract:

In this study, A357 (Al-7%Si-0.5%Mg) alloy/Al₂O₃ composites with various volume fractions (4%, 8%, 10%) were prepared by using permanent mould casting. In addition, A357 alloys were cast for comparison purposes. The alloys and composites were given a T6 heat treatment process (solution treatment and artificial ageing), Also microstructure, hardness and tensile properties of these composites were evaluated and compared. In addition, tribological properties of these composites were evaluated using a Pin-on-Disc apparatus at a constant sliding velocity of 1m/s and pressure of 0.35 MPa. The microstructure of the composites shows homogenous distribution of Al₂O₃ plate-like particles in the Al matrix except in the A357/10%Al₂O₃ composite. The wear and mechanical properties of composites improve with increasing the volume fraction of Al₂O₃ upto 8% and then decreases. Particularly, mechanical properties of the A357/10%Al₂O₃ composite are lower than the alloy indicating that the critical volume fraction of Al₂O₃ reinforcement in the A357 alloy is 8%. Wear morphology studies show that abrasive and delamination wear are extensive in the alloy whereas the slight delamination wear with some abrasive grooves are found in the composites.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 829)
• Pages: 66-72
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.829.66
• Online since: March 2016
• Authors: L. Avinash*, T. Ram Prabhu, Adithya Parthasarathy, K.N. Varun Kumar, Basavaraj Sajjan
• Keywords: Metal Matrix Composites, Microstructure, Tensile Property, Wear

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