Study of wear behaviour of magnesium hybrid metal matrix composites using Taguchi method

Abstract

In this study, dry sliding wear behavior of Magnesium Hybrid Metal Matrix Composite was investigated and a forecast model was developed using Taguchi’s technique. Magnesium metal reinforced with equal weight percentage of silicon carbide and alumina particles (pure mg, 5wt%, 10wt% and 15wt %) was produced using powder metallurgy technique. Wear tests were conducted using Pin-on-disc apparatus. The effect of applied load, sliding speed, temperature and weight percentage of reinforcement on the wear properties was investigated. It was found that as applied load and sliding speed increases, wear rate also increases. By increasing the temperature and weight percentage of reinforcements, the wear rate decreases and was found that at 75° temperature and 10% reinforced composite had more wear resistance. The forecast model indicates that the significant parameter that impacts the wear rate was weight percentage of reinforcement followed by applied load, temperature and sliding speed. By confirmation test, the anticipated wear rates were observed to be near to the experimental values.