Influence of bioceramic reinforcement on tribological behaviour of aluminium alloy metal matrix composites: experimental study and analysis

Abstract

Composite materials have become inevitable in many current day engineering applications. Aluminium alloy based composites were used in numerous fields of engineering and technology owing to their enormous advantages including low processing cost and broader scope of application. Developing a sustainable bio composite has become the order of the day to mitigate associated environmental issues. In line with this, current experimental work aims to develop a seashell powder reinforced aluminium alloy 2219 composites and determine their mechanical and tribological behaviour. Composites were fabricated using conventional casting with 1, 2 and 3% by weight of seashell powder in aluminium alloy matrix. Chemical constituents present in seashell powder were determined by using X-ray Diffraction studies. Cast composites were subjected to energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy to witness the formation of any secondary elements. Influence of seashell powder content over hardness and tribological behaviour of aluminium alloy 2219 composites were analysed by conducting appropriate experiments. Hardness was found to be maximum for the composite containing 3% of seashell powder. Tribological behaviour of the composites were optimized using response surface methodology. Wear and frictional resistance of the composites increased with the content of seashell powders and it was the most influential factor according to optimization results. Surface morphology was examined through scanning electron microscopic technique to know the influence of seashell powder on the wear behaviour of the composites and the type of wear occurred.