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Mechanical Characteristics and Wear Behaviour of Al/SiC and Al/SiC/B4C Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites Fabricated Through Powder Metallurgy Route

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Abstract

In the present study aluminium metal matrix composites (Al-MMCs) reinforced with different Wt% (2,3,4,5 and 6) of Silicon carbide (SiC) and hybrid composites of aluminium matrix reinforced with different Wt% (2,3,4,5 and 6) of SiC and constantly adding Boron carbide (B4C) with 2 wt% were fabricated using a cost effective powder metallurgy (PM) method and the mechanical alloying process. Mechanical properties like micro structure, phase analysis, hardness, compression strength, density, porosity and wear were characterized and investigated for the aluminium matrix composite (AMC) samples. Microstructural characterization of sintered samples was performed using a Scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray analysis. XRD analysis confirmed the peak identification of Aluminium, SiC and B4C particulates in the (Al-MMCs) composites. The hardness values of the composites Al+6wt% SiC and Al+4wt%SiC+2wt%B4C were seen as 20.6% higher than those of pure aluminium matrix. Increase in the hardness of the composite was seen due to grain refinement and resistance to dislocation motion. The existence of SiC particles in Al matrix was seen having the ability to improve the hardness value of the composites. The addition of SiC and B4C reinforcements in the Al matrix alloy has the potential to greatly increase the compressive strength of the AMCs. The density of hybrid composites was seen having a major impact on the influence of SiC and B4C particulates. The wear resistance of the hybrid composites were examined under load range of 5 and 10 N, with sliding speed of 0.1 m/s. The synergistic effect of reinforcing particles was seen as assisting the improvement of wear resistance due to the relative concentration of SiC and B4C. The incorporation of SiC and B4C reinforcements into the Aluminium matrix hybrid composite can substantially increase the hardness, compressive strength, and wear resistance of the composites.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank VIT University for providing the facilities for this research.

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  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, Tamil Nadu, India

    P. Bharathi & T. Sampath kumar

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Mr. P Bharathi: designed the concept, interpreted the data and wrote the manuscript; Dr.T Sampath Kumar: analysed and revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to T. Sampath kumar.

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Bharathi, P., kumar, T.S. Mechanical Characteristics and Wear Behaviour of Al/SiC and Al/SiC/B4C Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites Fabricated Through Powder Metallurgy Route. Silicon 15, 4259–4275 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02347-0

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