Mechanical Characterization and Tribological Behaviour of Al-Gr-B4c Metal Matrix Composite prepared by Stir Casting Technique

In this work, using stir casting technique 99.85% pure aluminum matrix was reinforced with graphite particles and boron carbide particles to study the effect of graphite and boron carbide reinforcement using mechanical testing and wear behaviour. Different volume fractions of boron carbide viz. 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% are incorporated into the alloy, maintaining the volume fraction of graphite as 2% for all proportions. The distributions of reinforcement are made uniform by using a mechanical stirrer attachment and the various compositions of metal matrix composite are casted for testing. Microstructural characterization studies performed on the different compositions of composite prepared shows a uniform distribution of B4C particles at microscopic scale with less porosity. Mechanical properties such as Micro-Vickers hardness test and compression strength are determined and tribological behaviour of the composite is studied using wear test. With 7.5% reinforcement of B4C particles, the hardness and compression strength are higher and the results of wear test demonstrates an increase in wear resistance with increase in B4C reinforcement