Optimization of Wear Behaviour of AA8011-Gr Composite using Taguchi Technique

Abstract

Composite is a combination of two or more dissimilar materials having a distinct interface between them such that the properties of the resulting material are superior to the individual constituents. Aluminum and its alloys have received major attention as matrix material for Metal Matrix Composites because they have excellent properties such as light weight, high strength to weight ratio, good thermal properties and high wear resistance. The present work aims to investigate 3-body abrasive wear behaviour of graphite (Gr) reinforced Aluminum alloy (AA-8011) metal matrix composite. The composite was prepared by two-step stir casting route. Three-body abrasive wear test was used to explore wear behaviour. The mass of each specimen was measured before and after wear test. Taguchi Technique was used as statistical tool to determine optimum combination of control parameters. L9 orthogonal array was employed and experimental design was based on control factors, Gr. wt.%, time, load and response factor was wear rate to evaluate 3-body abrasive wear performance. Empirical relation was developed for wear rate in terms of control variables by multiple regression analysis. Lastly, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the influence of individual factors on wear rate. Results were analyzed using the software called MINITAB V.17.1.0. It was observed that time and reinforcement wt.% were the significant factors affecting response variable. Also higher values of reinforcement wt% and time lead to higher wear resistance.