AN INVESTIGATION ON WEAR BEHAVIOUR OF CNT REINFORCED Al-SiC METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES

The attractive physical and mechanical properties of Aluminium Alloys and their light weight property (approximately 3 times lighter than Steel), low cost of production (with sand casting technology), easy machinability with good recycling possibilities (up to 95 %) makes them attractive for many Commercial and Industrial applications. The major problem of these alloys in Wear applications is their Low Wear Resistance. In order to improve its wear characteristic many Particle reinforced Aluminium Matrix Composites (PAMCs) were developed using Silicon Carbide (SiC), Titanium Carbide (TiC), Boron Carbide (B4C), Titanium Diboride (TiB2), Graphite (Gr), Molybdenum Di-Sulphide (MoS2), etc. as reinforcement particles by different methods (Stir casting, Compo casting, Powder Metallurgy, in-situ method using salts and spray deposition) and their wear characteristics were also studied. In this work, a MMC of Aluminium AA6061 reinforced with 4% SiC with 0.5% of Carbon Nano Tube (CNT) was developed by Stir and its dry sliding wear characteristic were investigated using Pin-on-Disc machine with disc material of EN32 steel (65 HRC) under the conditions: Applied Load varying from 5 N to 15 N, Sliding Velocity varying from 0.5 m/s to 1.5 m/s and Sliding distance varying from 400 m to 600 m. The worn out surfaces were examined using Scanning Electron Microscope. Experiments were carried according to Taguchi's L27 Orthogonal Array with Mass Loss and Co-Efficient of Friction as Responses. Grey Relational Analysis was carried to found the Minimal Mass Loss and Co-Efficient of Friction