Wear Resistance Of Composites Research Articles

Optimization of wear and friction behaviour of fish scale powder filled natural fibre/glass fibre hybrid epoxy composite in dry sliding condition

Abstract The purpose of this research is to look at the wear and friction properties of a unique composite material made up of fish scale powder, natural fibres, and glass fibres embedded in an epoxy matrix. The growing demand in many industries for eco-friendly and sustainable materials has resulted in the development of hybrid composites that combine natural and synthetic reinforcements. The goal of this study is to improve the wear resistance and frictional qualities of composite material under dry sliding conditions. The wear and friction behaviour of the composite is optimized using the Response Surface and Taguchi approach, which entails constructing a set of trials based on a statistical model. The significant components, which include fish scale powder content, natural fibre type and content, and sliding parameters, are carefully varied to determine the best combination that results in the least amount of wear and friction. The accuracy of the regression models exceeded expectations. According to Taguchi’s findings, F and V have the largest impact on wear loss and friction, respectively. Fish scale powder has shown great promise as a filler for enhancing the wear resistance of composites, as seen by the study’s findings. The optimized composite has exceptional wear resistance and low friction, making it a suitable alternative for dry sliding applications.

Enhancement on the thermal and tribological behaviors of polyurethane/epoxy-based interpenetrating network composites by orientationally aligned CNF/MXene/WPU aerogels

Tribological behaviour of polyurethane/epoxy interpenetrating polymer network (PU/EP IPN) as friction materials was investigated. This was a combination of the good flexibility of PU and high hardness of EP to realize polymer synergistic effect of interpenetrating network structure, aiming to broaden and develop the application of polymer-based composites in friction engineering materials. A novel CNF/MXene/WPU aerogel (CMW) was prepared by employing flexible NCO-terminated waterborne polyurethane prepolymer (WPU) as the supporting skeleton of aerogel, and synchronously combining the reinforcing-phase carbon nanofibers (CNF) and lubricating-phase MXene. Subsequently, the prepared ultralight porous yet mechanically robust CMW aerogels were encapsulated with IPN by vacuum impregnation. As expected, the addition of aerogel imparted IPN matrix with enhanced thermal and tribological properties due to the thermal dispersion and enhancement effects conferred on the matrix by the highly aligned and ordered three-dimensional interconnected structure of aerogel. Meanwhile, CMW reinforced IPN composites were explored for the formation of a high-quality transfer film on the contact surface during friction. The transfer film prevented direct contact between the friction couples, which facilitated the improvement of wear resistance of composites, thus giving this material great potential for tribological applications.

Investigation of effects of environmental conditions on wear behaviors of glass fiber reinforced polyester composite materials

AbstractGlass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites can be subjected to different environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, hydrothermal cycle, acidic and alkaline solution in environments where they operate. These environmental conditions cause different damage mechanisms in composites such as pore formation, micro‐cracks, delamination, fiber breakage, fiber/matrix interface separation, plasticization, swelling and surface color change. In this study, wear properties of hybrid glass fiber reinforced polymer composites exposed to various environmental conditions for constant load (60 N), speed (500 rpm) and 2 h were examined comprehensively, depending on material content and environmental conditions. In this experimental study, the service conditions in glass fiber reinforced composites were simulated using different artificial aging environments such as acidic environment, hydrothermal cycle and UV radiation. In addition to the material content, it appears that the environmental conditions to which composites are exposed has a significant effect on friction coefficient. Considering environmental conditions, it is seen that the acid environment and hydrothermal cycle have reduced wear resistance of GFRP composites, while UV radiation improved wear resistance of the composites. In C2 sample, the wear rates under different conditions are 1.87 × 10−14 m3/Nm in non‐treated sample, 6.05 × 10−14 m3/Nm in acid environment, 4.79 × 10−14 m3/Nm in hydrothermal cycle and 0.59 × 10−14 m3/Nm in UV radiation.Highlights Friction coefficient of glass fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP) is higher under aged condition compared to non‐treated. Glass fibers used in correct proportions can reduce friction coefficient in GFRP. GFRP exposed to environmental conditions has an important effect on wear. Acid environment and hydrothermal cycle has reduced wear resistance of GFRP. UV radiation improved wear resistance of GFRP composite.

Few-layered graphene/Al-Cu alloy matrix composites: Mechanical, tribological and corrosion properties

Nano-sized graphene incorporated Al-5.5 wt% Cu alloy matrix composites were produced via powder metallurgy. Nano-sized graphene powders obtained via the arc-discharge method were incorporated into Al and Cu powders in varying amounts (0–5 wt%) by applying a high-energy ball milling (HEBM) process for different durations. The consolidated composites were prepared by the succeeding uni-axial pre-compaction and pressureless sintering stages. The as-blended and mechanically alloyed (MAed) powders and bulk composites were comparatively characterized in terms of their physical, thermal, microstructural, tribological, mechanical, and corrosion properties depending on the graphene amount and the duration of mechanical alloying (MA). After 4 h of MA, the starting as-blended powders presented as coarse and discrete particles gained a refined and homogenized microstructure with more equiaxed dimensions. Bulk FLG/Al-5.5Cu (FLG in amounts of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 wt%) composites are ever-increasing hardness values with rising graphene as 109, 101, 128, 238, and 263 HV, respectively. The compressive strength improved gradually to 495 MPa using graphene up to 1 wt%, though contrary to the high hardness values, a drastic decline was observed by 5 wt% graphene incorporation. Besides, the wear resistance of composites outperformed that of the Al-5.5Cu matrix by incorporating this amount of reinforcement together without a deterioration in the corrosion resistance.

Fabrication, microstructure, mechanical properties and wear behavior of Al/Cu-SiCw composite

This research investigates the production of Cu-SiCw composites by using gas pressure infiltration method and the production of Al/Cu-SiCw composite by using the cold rolling method. The layers were bonded by three rolling reductions of 40 %, 50 %, and 60 %. The microstructures of composites before and after roll bonding were discussed based on SEM and EBSD images. Less agglomeration of whiskers was seen after higher rolling reductions which indicates better distribution of reinforcement in copper. In addition, no decomposition and reaction were observed in Cu-SiCw. The effect of rolling reductions on hardness, wear behavior, and tensile properties was also investigated. Hardness, yield, and ultimate strengths increased at higher rolling reductions. The yield and ultimate strengths increased from 118 MPa to 227 MPa after a 40 % rolling reduction to 150 MPa and 263 MPa after a 60 % rolling reduction. The measured friction coefficient and mass loss showed better wear resistance of composites at higher rolling reductions because the layers became hardened. The mass loss decreases from 6.46 mg after a 40 % rolling reduction to 5.42 mg after a 60 % rolling reduction. Worn surfaces based on SEM images showed shallower grooves and less remaining debris.

Investigation of agricultural waste and ZrB2 nanoparticles with reinforcement in aluminum alloy matrix

Agricultural waste has the potential to serve several purposes, such as reinforcement. In recent times, researchers have incorporated agricultural waste into various materials with the aim of enhancing their qualities. By acting as a kind of reinforcement, it has the potential to decrease the quantity of agricultural waste that needs further processing. This work enhances the area of advanced materials by examining the characteristics of Al 7175 alloy reinforced with zirconium diboride (ZrB2) nanoparticles and rice husk ash, which is a byproduct of agriculture. Understanding and improving the wear resistance of composites is crucial in several industrial applications. This study involves the incorporation of ZrB2 nanoparticles into the Al 7175 alloy at three distinct concentrations, with the addition of 2.5 % rice husk. This study examines the correlation between wear parameters and responses (Cf), including friction force (FF), wear rate (Sf), and friction coefficient. Sliding distance, load, composition, and speed are among the wear parameters. The aforementioned combinations result in a load of 25.2 N, a rotational speed of 400 rpm, a sliding distance of 71.2 m, and a composition of 5 %. Taguchi signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) analysis is used to identify optimal combinations for minimizing Cf, Sf, and FF. Confirmation tests are conducted in order to ensure that the results align with the expected optimal combinations. Data scientists may also use an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model as a valuable tool. It utilizes input data to forecast replies. The ANN model demonstrates strong performance throughout testing, validation, and training, with an overall prediction rate of 87.873 %. The study's results indicate that reducing the load and speed, while increasing the concentration of ZrB2 nanoparticles, may effectively decrease the wear rate. In addition, the use of rice husk enhances the wear resistance of the base alloy by 28 %. The alloy Al 7175 may experience a reduction in wear rate and friction coefficients by the incorporation of 2.5 % rice husk and 5 % ZrB2 nanoparticles.

Mechanical and abrasive wear properties of rape stalk reinforced polyvinyl chloride composites synergistically treated by alkali and ultrasound

Rape stalk was synergistically pretreated by alkali and ultrasound and prepared rape stalk/PVC composites. The properties of composites were examined and the results showed that the composites synergistically treated by alkali and ultrasound demonstrated considerably increased in hardness, mechanical strength, thermal stability and wear resistance. Compare to composites treated with ultrasound, the hardness, tensile, impact and flexural strength of synergistically treated composites were increased by 7.74 %, 8.32 %, 10.34 %, 13.80 %, respectively. Compared to composites treated with alkali, the increases were 6.48 %, 4.35 %, 1.59 %, 2.10 %, respectively. In addition, compared to composites treated with ultrasound, the best wear resistance of composites after the synergistic alkali-ultrasound treatment was achieved which showed decreases in wear loss and specific wear rate of 11.96 % and 14.46 %, respectively. Reductions of 9.48 % and 8.43 %, respectively, were obtained in comparison to composites treated with alkali. Therefore, the synergistic alkali-ultrasound treatment is potential to improve the properties of composites.

An investigation on enhancing the wear resistance of PTFE-based composites through complex fillers incorporating a combination of kaolinite and single-walled carbon nanotubes

ABSTRACT In this study, the combined effect of kaolinite with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on mechanical, tribological, thermodynamic properties and structure of polymer composites based on polytetrafluoroethylene was investigated. Combination of SWCNTs with the composite mixture (containing kaolinite) was carried out in liquid and dry forms by ultrasonic dispersion. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the composite with 0.5 wt.% SWCNTs and 1 wt.% kaolinite in the liquid treatment was characterized by a 12% increase in the degree of crystallinity. It is shown that the introduction of complex fillers into PTFE significantly increased the wear resistance of composites by 688 times compared to the initial PTFE. Mechanical testing of the composites showed an increase in elastic modulus by 29% and 28% increase in compressive strength compared to the initial PTFE. The friction surface of the composites was investigated using IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It was registered that the PCM friction surface is characterized by the formation of “scaly” structures. The IR spectra of PCM friction surfaces revealed the presence of hydroxyl groups and carboxylate anions – perfluorocarboxylic acid. It indicates the formation of a new structure on the friction surfaces of the composites with the formation of “scaly” micro-protrusions at increasing SWCNTs concentration. Keywords: polytetrafluoroethylene; single-walled carbon nanotubes; kaolinite; ultrasonic treatment.

Hybrid reinforcing effect of multi-scale short carbon fibers on the wear resistance of PTFE composites: Self-reconstruction and stress transmission

This study investigates the mechanical properties and tribological behavior of multi-scale hybrid short carbon fibers (SCFs)-reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composites. The optimization of 0.5 mm SCFs (SSCFs) and 400 mesh SCFs (LSCFs) ratios was studied based on the representative volume element (RVE) model. The experimental results show that the specific wear rate of the composite is reduced by 91.1% and 93.3% respectively compared to the addition of SSCFs and LSCFs alone. Electron microscopy and surface SCFs cross-sectional area characterizations reveal that the internal LSCFs effectively transfer stress to improve the mechanical properties of the composites, and the self-orientation and enrichment (self-reconstruction) of SSCFs on the friction surface together lead to outstanding wear resistance of the composites.

Dry sliding wear characteristics of in-situ hybrid (Al3Ni + Al2O3)–Al composites

Dry sliding wear characteristics of in-situ hybrid (Al3Ni + Al2O3)/Al composites synthesised by solid-state combustion of Al– xNiO ( x = 8 wt%, 10 wt%, 12 wt% and 15 wt%) system were investigated. The results indicate that the in-situ hybrid Al3Ni + Al2O3 particles can markedly improve wear performance of composites. The increase of wear resistance with an increase in NiO content at room temperature can be attributed to high hardness offered by high volume fraction of hard Al3Ni and Al2O3 particles. While, at 200 °C, the increase in wear resistance of composites with higher NiO contents can be attributed to the high thermal stability of composites. With the increase of NiO content from 8% to 15%, the wear mode of composites also is discussed at room temperature and 200 °C.

Effects of TiB2 content on microstructural evolution, microhardness and tribological behaviours of Al matrix composites reinforced with TiB2 particles

In this study, Al2024/TiB2 composites with different TiB2 fractions (5, 10 and 15 vol%) were fabricated by high-energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering. The effects of TiB2 fraction on the microstructure, hardness and wear resistance of the composites were explored to determine the optimal TiB2 content in the composite with optimal properties. An increase in Vickers hardness of the composites correlates with the increased TiB2 content, and the Al2024-15TiB2 composite exhibits the highest hardness. The wear rate of the composite initially increases and then decreases with higher TiB2 content. Notably, the Al2024-10TiB2 composite demonstrates the best wear resistance with a wear rate of 1.14 × 10−4 mm³/Nm, representing a 96.81 % reduction compared to the unreinforced Al2024. The deteriorated wear resistance of the Al2024-15TiB2 composite was attributed to the decreased toughness and severe three-body abrasion caused by the excessive TiB2 particles.

Prediction on the wear rate of epoxy composites reinforced micro-filler of the natural material residue using Taguchi – neural network

The abrasive wear rate of epoxy composites reinforced with fillers sourced from recycled natural waste consisting of pollen of palm (PPW) and seashells (SSW) was studied.
 Due to the importance of polymer composites used in the tribological couplings of machinery structures, as well as their possible use in brake pads as alternative materials for harmful components in environmentally polluted asbestos, the current research seeks to develop the tribological properties of composite materials reinforced with natural fillers and environmentally friendly. The research investigated the effect of two factors, the weight percentage of natural filler wt. % (0.5 %,1 %, and 1.5 %) and testing loads (1000 g, 2000 g, 3000 g) upon the wear resistance of epoxy composites. The importance of developing epoxy compounds is evident, especially since their work does not require lubricating conditions in various industrial fields, and therefore the development of their bonding properties will increase their operational life and achieve economic benefit for the industrial sector and the environment at the same time. The epoxy composites were subjected to abrasive wear tests under dry friction conditions using a pin-on-disc system. Signal-to-noise (S/N) analysis is adopted to study the influence of the two factors, wt. % and test loads, upon the tribological wear resistance of epoxy composites. A predictive model depending on the regression equation was developed to predict the wear resistance of epoxy composites. The results showed an improvement in the wear resistance of the composite material compared to the epoxy sample without filling by about 47 %. The optimum condition for wear resistance of epoxy composites has been achieved with a weight ratio of (1.5 %) and an applied load of 1000 g

Co-construction of microstructure evolution and wear resistance of in-situ TiBw/TA15 composites with network structure

To further improve the wear resistance of titanium alloy, titanium matrix composites with network distributed TiBw were fabricated. Microstructure evolution and wear mechanism of TA15 alloy and 5 vol% TiBw/TA15 composites were investigated at the temperature of 25 °C and 600 °C. The wear rate of TiBw/TA15 composites at 600 °C was only 7.2 × 10−5 mm3/(N·m). Compared to TA15 alloy, the wear rate of composites decreased by 17.2% at room temperature and 38.4% at high temperature. A novel approach was used to investigate the enhancement role of reinforcement on wear resistance of composites: co-construction of subsurface microstructure evolution and wear resistance through multi-angle observation. The results showed that the improvement of the wear resistance at room temperature was attributed to the TiBw, which enhanced work hardening and improved thermal conductivity. During high- temperature wear process, the TiBw effectively hindered dislocation movement and promoted the DRX, which decreased the stress concentration caused by severe plastic deformation.

Consolidation and wear resistance of Fe based bulk metallic glass composites by spark plasma sintering

High densification and wear resistance are essential for the application of Fe-based bulk metallic glass composites. In this work, Fe-based composites were fabricated by spark plasma sintering. Firstly, under the pressure of 150 MPa, all samples achieved high densification, the microcontact pressure between powder particles decreased with increasing density. Then, as the sintering temperature was increased from 350 °C to 450 °C, the crystalline phases were identified as Fe3Si and Fe2B. The hard borides improved the hardness and wear resistance of composites. Finally, at sintering temperature of 400 °C, the sample exhibited the highest micro-Vickers hardness of 1168.8 Hv and the lowest friction coefficient of 0.59, the coefficient of friction was lower than that of bearing steel. FeSiB BMG composites showed dominant abrasive and oxidative wear mechanisms. FeSiB composites showed excellent hardness and wear resistance, which extends the potential application of bulk metallic glass in the field of engineering structural materials.

Microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of Cu-Sn/Cr3C2/Gr composites

Cr3C2 and graphite (Gr) reinforced Cu-Sn matrix composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy. The effects of Cr3C2 content (5, 10, 15, 20 wt%) on the microstructure, mechanical properties and tribological properties of studied composites were investigated. The results showed that Cr3C2 particles were well bonded to the copper matrix. The as-sintered Cu-Sn/20Cr3C2/5Gr composite achieved a microhardness of 120 HV, an ultimate compressive strength of 330 MPa, and a yield strength of 206.49 MPa. Cr3C2 particles improved the high-temperature stability of the composite with a softening temperature of 800 ℃. In addition, Cr3C2 particles had an inhibitory effect on plastic deformation and adhesive contact during wear, improving the wear resistance of composites. The average friction coefficient and wear rate of Cu-Sn/20Cr3C2/5Gr were 0.32 and 2.48 × 10-5 mm3·N−1·m−1, respectively. It was worth noting that the dominant wear mechanisms of the studied composites changed with increased Cr3C2 content, from adhesive wear to abrasive wear. This work was beneficial for developing copper matrix composites with high-temperature stability and enhanced wear resistance.

Mono-dispersed AuNPs decorated enlarged halloysite nanotubes to encapsulate [HMIm][NTf2] microcapsules for improving the wear resistance of composites

In this study, a microcapsule, with gold nanoparticles dispersed on enlarged halloysite nanotube (HNTs) was prepared for encapsulating ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluormethylsulfonyl)imide ([HMIm][NTf2]). The thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the PBO/PTFE fabric/phenolic resin composite liner improved after incorporating [HMIm][NTf2]@HNTs/Au microcapsules. Pin-on-disk wear tests (55 MPa and 0.8 m/s for 120 min) demonstrated that the wear rate decreased from 9.4 × 10−15 m3 /(N⋅m) to 3.9 × 10−15 m3 /(N⋅m) when the filler content up to 2.0 wt% was added to a pure composites. This was attributed to a 40 nm adaptive tribofilm constructed on the counterpart surface due to filler.

In vitro degradation and dry sliding wear behaviour of AZ31-Sn/Al2O3 nano metal matrix composites in simulated body fluid for biomedical application

In this research, tin was added to the AZ31/2Al2O3 magnesium metal matrix composite to investigate its influence on degradation rate in the presence of simulated body fluid (SBF) and wear behaviour in dry conditions. The AZ31- xSn/2Al2O3 ( x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt%) composites were manufactured using the bottom pouring stir casting route. The microstructure of the manufactured AZ31/2Al2O3 and AZ31- xSn/2Al2O3 composites revealed that they were composed of the α-Mg solid solution and the intermetallic compound □-Mg17Al12, which was situated near the grain boundaries. When tin was added, the Sn-rich intermetallic compound Mg2Sn was formed, increasing the volume fraction of the Mg2Sn phase. Compared to AZ31/2Al2O3 composite, the wear test revealed that AZ31/2Al2O3 composites containing Sn particles exhibited a higher ability to generate more stable tribo-layers at higher applied loads, which protected the worn surface and reduced the wear rate. The wear resistance of composites was improved primarily by the behaviour of the tribo-layer in the wear process. The degradation rates (mm/year) of the AZ31 composites were carried out for 72 h in SBF. The degradation rate was reduced when the Sn content in the AZ31/2Al2O3 composite was increased to 6 wt% and then increased with further Sn addition. It was observed that when the amount of Sn particles increases up to 6 wt%, the severity of the degradation decreases.

Effect of homologous molecular crosslinking on the tribological properties of PTFE composites

AbstractA method of improving the tribological properties of hexagonal boron nitride/short carbon fibers/polytetrafluoroethylene (h‐BN/SCFs/PTFE) composites by adding homologous micropowder (MP1100) with polar groups is proposed in this study. Composites of h‐BN/SCFs/PTFE with MP1100 at 0, 8, 16, 24, and 32 wt% were prepared. The pin‐on‐disc device was used to evaluate the friction properties of composites, and wear mechanisms against duplex stainless steel was examined. The experimental results show that MP1100 micropowder improves composite mechanical properties, friction coefficient, and wear resistance of composites. A 78.4% drop in wear rate was measured for 24 wt% MP1100. Such decrease in wear rate is explained based on changes in composite molecular structure, a transfer film formed by the absorption of debris, and the formation of chemically reacted polar group compounds on the steel disc.

Hygroscopic analysis and tribo-mechanical characterization of biocompatible PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite

Purpose The purpose of this study is to look into the hygroscopic and tribo-mechanical properties of a polypropylene/polyamide-6 (PP/PA6) blend and a PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite. Design/methodology/approach The hygroscopic behaviour of the PP/PA6 blend and PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite was studied using a water contact angle goniometer in this study. To validate the hygroscopic behaviour of the blend and composite, water contact angles and surface energy of the materials were investigated. Tensile strength and hardness tests were used to determine mechanical characteristics, and tribological experiments on a pin-on-disc tribometer were used to demonstrate the friction and wear rates of dry and water-conditioned blends and composites. The melting temperature of dry and water-conditioned composites was determined using DSC analysis. Findings The hygroscopic effect of the PP/PA6 blend was found to be minimal in the experiment, while it was relatively dominating in the PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite. Tensile strength was found to be somewhat lower in blend and composite compared to virgin PP, whereas hardness was found to be higher in both blend and composite. The composite’s tribological testing findings were fairly outstanding, with the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rates significantly reduced due to boron sesquioxide reinforcement. The reaction between boron sesquioxide and water molecules produced boric acid, which increased the tribological characteristics of the composite even further. Following 30 days of water conditioning, the weight of the blend increased by 3.64% and the weight of the composite increased by 6.45% as compared to the dry materials. After water conditioning, tensile strength reduced by 0.8% for the blend and 14.16% for the composite. Hardness was determined to be the same in the dry state and after water-conditioning for blend but dropped 1% for composite. As compared to blend, the COF and wear resistance of composite were 15.52% and 25.16% higher, respectively. After absorbing some water, the results increased to 28.57% and 34.9%, respectively. Originality/value The mechanical and thermal behaviour of polymer composites (particularly polyamide composites) vary depending on the surrounding environment. Tests were carried out to explore the effect of water treatment on the tribo-mechanical and thermal characteristics of PP/PA6/Boron sesquioxide composite. Water treatment caused polyamides to bind with water molecules, resulting in voids in the material. The interaction between boron sesquioxide and water molecules produced boric acid, which increased the tribological characteristics of the composite.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Sliding Wear Resistance of Hybrid Aluminum Matrix Composite

Composite materials with aluminum as matrix material have a wider amplitude of large-scale applications in engineering. Some salient features of aluminum matrix composites are, low density, low thermal coefficient of performance and low weight and high strength. Among the various series of aluminum alloy, Al6061 have been widely used by researchers due to its outstanding properties particularly as they are heat treatable. Aluminum 6061 alloys have been reinforced with various particulate reinforcements such as silicon carbide, and graphite to study their friction and wear resistance properties. Adding silicon carbide particulate reinforcement improves the sliding wear resistance of composite material. However, it makes the material brittle and hard resulting in machining difficulties and rough surface finish. On the other hand, it has been found from the literature survey that the addition of graphite particulate reinforcement increases ductility and sliding wear resistance. In this context, the present article focuses on developing hybrid aluminum matrix composites by incorporating both graphite and silicon carbide. Heat treatment has been carried out to further enhance the wear resistance and strength of the composites. Vortex-stir casting was successfully utilized to fabricate Al6061-SiC-Gr hybrid composites. There was excellent bonding between the matrix and reinforcement materials as revealed by the microstructure study. The sliding wear resistance of the Al6061-SiC composite was higher than the base matrix material. Heat treatment increases the sliding wear resistance of the composite. Ice quenching results in maximum improvement. Increased content of graphite increases the sliding wear resistance of Al6061-SiC composite. Further heat treatment increases the sliding wear resistance of the hybrid composites with ice quenching resulting in maximum improvement.