Investigation on Mechanical Properties and Analysis of Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Al LM13/AlN Metal Matrix Composite Based on Taguchi's Technique

Abstract

LM13/AlN (10 wt. %) metal matrix composites (MMC) and unreinforced aluminum alloy were produced under stir casting route. Microstructural characteristics were examined on the developed composite using optical microscope. The hardness and tensile test were carried out on both unreinforced aluminum alloy and composite using Vickers hardness tester and universal testing machine (UTM), respectively. Dry sliding wear behavior of the composite and unreinforced aluminum alloy was evaluated using pin-on-disk tribometer based on the design of experiments approach. Experimental parameters such as applied load (10, 20, and 30 N), velocity (1, 2, and 3 m/s), and sliding distance (500, 1000, and 1500 m) were varied for three levels. Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio analysis, analysis of variance, and regression analysis were also performed. The characterization results showed that reinforcement particles were uniformly distributed in the composite. The hardness and tensile test revealed greater improvement of property in composite compared to that of unreinforced alloy. Wear plot showed that wear was increased with increase in load and decreased with increase in velocity and sliding distance. S/N ratio analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that load has greater significance over the wear rate followed by velocity and sliding distance. Regression analysis revealed greater adequacy with the constructed model in predicting the wear behavior of composite and unreinforced aluminum alloy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis is evident that the transition of wear from mild to severe occurred on increase of the load in the composite.