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Fabrication, Mechanical and Wear Characterization of Silicon Carbide Reinforced Aluminium 7075 Metal Matrix Composite

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Abstract

Al7075-SiC composites containing three different weight percentages, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % of SiC, have been fabricated by powder metallurgy. Mechanical and tribological characteristics of Al7075-SiC composites have been investigated under dry sliding conditions. The microstructural characterization confirms the even dispersion of SiC particles and good interfacial bonding between the reinforcement – matrix. Improved mechanical characteristics are noticed for 15 %SiC composite compared to both 5 & 10 %SiC composites. Dry sliding wear examinations have been carried out using pin-on-disc equipment. Wear loss and coefficient of friction of samples were measured, and the variation of cumulative wear loss with load is linear for all the composites. The wear mechanism appears to be oxidative for all specimens under the given conditions of load and sliding distance as indicated by the optical microscopic worn out surfces. Further, the experimentation that the wear loss and coefficient of friction decrease linearly with increase increasing weight % of silicon carbide. Response surface methodology confirms that wt.% SiC is positively influencing both wear loss and coefficient of friction. The best mechanical and tribological properties have been exhibited by the composite reinforced with 15 % SiC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, GITAM (Deemed to be University) Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 502329, India

    Mulugundam Siva Surya

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, NIT Andhra Pradesh, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh, 534101, India

    S. K. Gugulothu

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  1. Mulugundam Siva Surya
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  2. S. K. Gugulothu
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Mulugundam Siva Surya: Conceptualization, Methodology, Experimentation, Result Analysis, Writing- Original draft preparation., S.K. Gugulothu: Supervision.

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Correspondence to Mulugundam Siva Surya.

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Surya, M.S., Gugulothu, S.K. Fabrication, Mechanical and Wear Characterization of Silicon Carbide Reinforced Aluminium 7075 Metal Matrix Composite. Silicon 14, 2023–2032 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-00992-x

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