High temperature sliding wear behavior of AA6061/fly ash aluminum matrix composites prepared using compocasting process

Abstract

Fly ash particle reinforced aluminum matrix composite (AMCs) has been fabricated using a stir casting furnace by employing compocasting technique. The presence of fly ash particles in the compocast fabricated AMCs has been tested by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The wear behaviour of compocast fabricated AMCs and matrix alloy AA6061were tested using Pin-On-Disc apparatus. The effect of fly ash particulate content (0, 4, 8 and 12 wt.%) and temperature (40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 °C) on wear rate and worn surface of the AMCs were studied. The reinforcement of hard fly ash particles is successful to improve the wear resistance of the compocast AMCs at all temperatures studied in this work. SEM micrograph of worm surface indicated that at elevated temperature the prime wear process for the AA6061 alloys were adhesion and metal flow, whereas for AA6061/Fly ash compocast composite adhesion, metal flow and oxidation are the most influencing wear process.