Wear Characterization of Aluminium 6061-Fly ash Reinforced Composities

Abstract

Aluminium 6061 alloy (Al6061) is most abundantly used matrix material due to its unique combination of low density, high strength, good mechanical properties, higher corrosion resistance, low electrical resistance and better machinability properties. However it?s relatively poor resistance to wear has limited its use in certain tribological applications. In recent years, many of the fiber reinforced and particulate reinforced Al 6061composites have shown substantial enhancement in their mechanical as well as tribological properties. In view of the above, an attempt has been made to study the mechanical and tribological properties of fly ash reinforced Al 6061 composites, processed using the stir casting technique. Three sets of composite samples were prepared with 5, 10 and 15 weight percentage of fly ash with particle sizes in the ranges of 5-20, 25-30 and 50-60 ?m in each set. Wear tests of these composites were conducted by using pin on disc apparatus. It was found that as the content of fly ash increased from 0 to 10%, wear rate decreased. With further increase in the content of fly ash up to 15 wt-%, wear rate increased. With the increase in particle size of the fly ash, wear rate decreased.