Experimental Investigation on Tribological Behavior and Grey Relational Optimization of an Eco-friendly Automobile Brake Rotor Materials

Abstract

Cast Iron (CI) is the material used in various automobile brake rotor applications. Replacing this Cast Iron by aluminium metal matrix composites can meet the need of high strength to weight ratio, corrosion resistance and better tribological properties. Recent studies suggest that Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites (HMMC) has high success rate in reducing wear. In this paper, the tribological behavior and grey relational optimization of the Al7075 alloy and its composites fabricated through stir casting technique are investigated. The dry sliding wear tests were conducted to examine the wear behavior of the aluminium alloy and its composites. Wear tests were carried out at various loads (20-40N), sliding velocity (2-6m/s), and sliding distances (2000-4000m). Experimental results analysis reveal that the specific wear rate decreases upto 4 m/s of sliding velocity and then starts increasing. Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) – an optimization technique was employed to find out the effect of individual factors on specific wear rate. The optimized results indicates, load is most significant factor which influences on specific wear rate significantly whereas sliding speed and sliding distance effects were minimum.