Assessing the Tribological Behaviour of Stir Casted AA 6063 with xwt% ZrSiO4 and 6wt% TiB2 Hybrid Composites

• Published in: Journal of the Institution of Engineers (India): Series D 2022, Vol.103 (1), p.85-94
• Main Authors: Kaviyarasan, K., Soundararajan, R., Roger, R. Robin, Rudresh, S., Ismail, R. Sharfaraaz, Prasanth, V. Sankar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Coefficient of friction; Delamination; Engineering; Hybrid composites; Original Contribution; Room temperature; Sliding; Titanium diboride; Tribology; Wear rate; Zirconium silicate
• ISSN: 2250-2122; 2250-2130
• DOI: 10.1007/s40033-021-00306-w

A new combination of AA6063 as a matrix material with ZrSiO 4 and TiB 2 as its reinforcements were taken to fabricate hybrid composites by stir casting method. The fabricated specimens are as-cast condition; initially, in further by varying, the reinforcement particles of 2 and 4 weight percentage (wt%) of ZrSiO 4 and 6 wt% of TiB 2 were kept constant. The three prepared specimens were tested at room temperature under dry sliding conditions using pin on disc tribometer with applied loads of 20 N,50 N with a velocity of sliding as 1, 2 and 3 m/s, respectively. The responses for all the test specimens are rate of wear and frictional coefficient, were measured and computed besides worn-out surface mechanisms and were examined through scanning electron microscopy. The observed results revealed that higher weight percentage of AA6063 with 4 wt% ZrSiO 4 and 6 wt% TiB 2 hybrid composite sample exhibits lower rate of wear and higher frictional coefficient than other test samples for all the applied load and sliding velocity settings. This is due to harder particles plays in the softer alloy shows higher hardness. SEM analysis reveals, when the 50 N applied load with a 3 m/s sliding velocity condition shows deep grove and severe delamination was observed for soft natured test samples followed by absence of crack, delamination, particle pullout and mild surface damage was observed for highest weight percentage addition test specimen. The new combination of hybrid composites has better tribological behaviour in which it can be preferred for automobile and aeronautical component replacement.