Studies on sliding wear characteristics of aluminium LM25/silicon dioxide functionally graded composite and optimisation of parameters using response surface methodology

This paper deals with the study of dry sliding wear of LM25/silicon dioxide (10 wt.%) functionally graded composite. The composite was fabricated using stir casting technique and the melt was poured into a horizontal centrifugal die rotating at 1200 min^?1. After casting, the specimen (length 150 mm, external diameter 150 mm and internal diameter 130 mm) was subjected to microstructure and hardness tests at three different depths from the outer periphery (1 mm, 8 mm and 13 mm). The results of the respective tests revealed that the outer periphery of the specimen had higher particle concentration and hardness. Then, wear test was done on a pin‐on‐disc tribometer at room temperature with the experiments designed using response surface methodology and by taking specimens of size 8 x 8 x 15 mm such that the surface undergoing wear was at 1 mm from the outer periphery of the cast. The process variables of load (10 ‐ 40 N), velocity (1 ‐ 4 m/s) and sliding distance (400 ‐ 1200 m) were varied using a level 5 design and experiments were carried on for 20 different optimal combinations. From the regression equation generated for the wear response, it was found that load had maximum effect on the wear rate. The confirmation experiments proved that the regression model could serve well in predicting the wear rate for the given ranges of the continuous factors, for the given composite. Surface plots showed that the wear rate had an increasing trend with respect to load, which was the dominating continuous factor. Though the wear rate increased, severe delamination of the functionally graded composite was delayed. The optimum levels of the continuous factors to minimize the wear rate were found using response optimisation and found to be 10 N, 1.7576 m/s and 2000 m respectively. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the worn surface of the specimens connected to the obtained trends and thus further validated the model developed. Thus, a functionally graded LM13 composite with silicon dioxid reinforcements is developed and a wear model to predict its wear rate under different process parameters is proposed with predictions of optimal performance conditions. This composite can increase life of components of wear applications in aerospace and automobile industry.     

The mechanical properties and abrasive wear behavior of functionally graded aluminum/AlB2 composites produced by centrifugal casting

Functionally graded aluminum composites reinforced with different average sized (15, 44, and 74 µm) aluminum diboride (AlB₂) particles (10 wt%) have been fabricated through centrifugal casting process. The outer, middle, and inner surfaces of all the functionally graded composites were tested for their microhardness using a Vicker's hardness tester. The outer and inner zones of all the composites were investigated for their tensile strength using a universal testing machine. The abrasive wear test was conducted using dry abrasion tester on the outer region of the composites based on Taguchi's design of experiments, under the influence of parameters such as load, speed, and reinforcement size. The analysis of variance was performed and determined that load has major significance on the wear rate followed by reinforcement size and speed. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed on the worn-out surfaces and it was observed that outer surface of coarser particle reinforced composite with lesser scratches and minimum loss of material.     

Abrasive wear behavior of monolithic alloy,homogeneous and functionally graded aluminum (LM25/AlN and LM25/SiO2) composites

Functionally graded metal matrix composites (MMCs) and homogenous composites (Al/AlN and Al/SiO₂-10 wt%) have been fabricated through centrifugal casting and liquid metallurgy route, respectively. The properties of these composites were compared with aluminum alloy. Microstructural characteristics and hardness were studied on the surfaces of functionally graded materials (FGMs), homogenous composites, and unreinforced aluminum alloy using an optical microscope and a Vickers micro hardness tester, respectively. Tensile test was carried out on the outer and inner sections of FGMs and specimens from homogenous composites and alloy utilizing universal testing machines (UTMs). Three-body abrasive wear test was conducted for different loads and speeds to study their effect on the surfaces of composites and alloy using dry abrasion tester. Microstructural and hardness results reveal that the outer surface of aluminum nitride (AlN)-reinforced FGM has a particle-enriched region with the highest hardness. Tensile strength was found higher in both homogenous composites compared to zones of their FGMs. Abrasion wear rate was found increased with increase in load and decreased with increase in speed. The outer surface of AlN-reinforced FGM has higher wear resistance followed by the outer surface of SiO₂-reinforced FGM. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed on worn-out surfaces and observed particle-enriched outer surface of Al/AlN FGM with less abrasion.     

Synthesis and characterization of functionally graded nickel‐nickel coated ZrO2 composite coating

Electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ (NCZ) particles have been used to produce a functionally graded nickel‐electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ composite coating. So, electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ particles concentration was continuously increased from 0 to an optimum value in the electroplating bath (Watt's bath). The substrate was ST37 steel and the thickness of the coating was approximately 50 μm. Also a uniformly distributed nickel‐electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ composite coating has been manufactured as comparison. The composite coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. Structure and phase composition were identified by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Microhardness of the coatings was evaluated by employing a Vickers instrument. Three‐point bend test was carried out to compare the adhesion strength of the coatings. Dry sliding wear tests were performed using a pin‐on‐disk wear apparatus. The electrochemical behavior of the coatings was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The microhardness measurements showed that, with increasing the co‐electrodeposited electroless‐nickel plated ZrO₂ particle content in the nickel matrix, the microhardness increases from interface towards the surface of the functionally graded composite coating. Bend, wear and electrochemical test results confirmed that the functionally graded composite coating has higher adhesion, wear resistance and corrosion resistance as compared with the uniformly distributed coating. This has been attributed to lower mechanical mismatch between coating and substrate in functionally graded composite coating with respect to the uniformly distributed one.