Tribological characteristics of aluminium alloy composites manufactured by liquid state casting process – A review

Abstract

The global requirement for good quality and superior performing composites has led to research in hybrid metal matrix composite materials. In metal matrix composites, Al alloy composite has been chosen widely because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and superior wear resistance. Reinforcements like particulate Al2O3, SiC, fly-ash and graphite, etc. can easily be included in the melt using a liquid state casting process. In order to fulfil the essential need for elaborating their application, conventional stir casting method is employed which is economical for fabricating composite material when compared to other solid-state and liquid-state processes. This paper mainly focuses on the tribological properties and problems incorporated at the time of stir casting process of aluminium alloy composites containing one or more reinforcements. It provides inputs on the reinforcement incorporated, the matrix composition and the interface overlap and distribution each of which is critical in determining the performance of the composite. Processing AMMCs is straight forward using stir casting process, which is the most inexpensive and robust process that can be used on a wide scale, while other methods are confined to laboratories alone.