Tribological Investigation of the Effects of Particle Volume Fraction, Applied Load and Sliding Distance on AA4015/Titania Nanocomposites

The friction and wear properties of AA4015 reinforced with Titania nanoparticles were studied. The test matrix varied volume fraction of Titania, applied load and sliding distance to study the coupled effects on the tribological properties of AA4015/Titania nanocomposites. The nanocomposite samples were tested in dry sliding against a steel counterface. The specific wear rate ranged from 6.24×10−6 to 1.17×10−5 mm3 /N-m and the friction coefficient ranged from 0.16 to 0.72. Specific wear rate increased with increasing applied load and sliding distance at any volume fraction of Titania nanoparticles in the range tested. The resistance to wear increased with increasing volume fraction of Titania nanoparticles. The 25 vol.%, of Titania has reduced the specific wear rate of AA4015 by 48.26% at applied load of 40N and sliding distance 1000 m and by 54.21% for sliding distance of 1600 m and at applied of 25N.