Experimental investigation on mechanical behaviour, modelling and optimization of wear parameters of B4C and graphite reinforced aluminium hybrid composites

• Aluminium alloy reinforced with boron carbide and graphite through liquid casting.
• The high hardness and elongation obtained in the AA 7075 hybrid composite.
• SEM, EDS observations were used to evaluate the worn surface.
• MINITAB software was used to analyse the wear rate and develop the map.

Aluminium alloy (AA) 6061 and 7075 were reinforced with 10 wt.% of boron carbide (B4C) and 5 wt.% of graphite through liquid casting technique. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS) were used for the characterization of composites. The wear experiment was carried out by using a pin-on-disc apparatus with various input parameters like applied load (10, 20, and 30 N), sliding speed (0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 m/s) and sliding distance (1000, 1500, and 2000 m). Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using MINITAB 14 software was used to analyse the wear rate of hybrid composites and aluminium alloys. The worn surfaces of hybrid composites and base alloys were studied through SEM and EDS systems and some useful conclusions were made.

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