Characterization, Fabrication and Dry Sliding Wear Analysis of Hybrid Aluminium 6061 Composite

In the present study, wear behavior of Al6061 hybrid composite having silicon carbide and red mud as the reinforcements have been studied. This hybrid composite was fabricated using the stir casting technique. Effect of variation of magnesium content, red mud content, aging time, red mud particle size, applied load, displacement and speed were studied. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the fairly uniform distribution of the reinforcement particles and provided wear patterns of this composite. Energy dispersive spectroscopy showed different constituents present in this hybrid composite. Wear loss decreased with an increase in magnesium content and aging time while it decreased with an increase in red mud content up to 4% (wt%) and particle size up to 150 mesh (105 µm). Wear loss increased with an increase in load, sliding speed and sliding distance. Load and sliding distance have a significant effect on the wear loss. Optimum values for minimum weight loss were calculated and were confirmed by confirmation experiments. Load and sliding distance have been found to have significant effect on wear loss. So this fabricated composite can be utilized in various applications like in Marine frames, Aircraft and truck frames, Chemical equipment, aircraft landing mats etc.