ANALYSIS OF TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ALUMINIUM METAL MATRIX COMPOSITE FABRICATED BY STIR CASTING METHOD

Abstract

The composite material has been fabricated using mechanical stir casting method. For which Al6063 alloy was selected as a metal matrix and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) in 25 micrometer as a reinforcement powder and three sample of casting were made. One as casted, second with 2% reinforcement by (weight), and third with 4% reinforcement by (weight). The die used was of mild steel. And the parameter selected for this fabrication are melting temperature of alloy 900°C, melting time of alloy 90 min. stir rpm 200, stir time 15 min. preheating of reinforcement for 30 min. at 300°C in muffle furnace and then wear test and Micro-Hardness test were performed. Wear test was performed at three different load (20 N. 40 N, 60 N) first at 1 m/s sliding velocity and then at 2 m/s sliding velocity in the specimens (pin) of all three casting sample at a fix sliding distance of 2000 m. The time taken for wear test was 33.33 min. at 1 m/s sliding velocity and 16.66 min. at 2 m/s sliding velocity. Wear test was performed in dry condition at room temperature. The material of disc used for wear test is EN24 steel with hardness value of 58HRC. The result obtained of wear test shows that the casting sample with 4% yttrium oxide (Y2O3) at 1 m/s sliding velocity has good wear resistance and low wear rate and less weight loss in (gm.) after wear at all three load (20 N, 40 N, 60 N). and the result of Micro-Hardness test shows that the casting sample with 4% yttrium oxide (Y2O3) has more hardness value compare to as casted sample and sample with 2% yttrium oxide. For inspection of microstructure optical microscopy techniques was used.