Effect of heat treatment on wear behavior of hybrid aluminum metal matrix composites

Abstract

The focus of the paper is the wear behavior of hybrid aluminum metal matrix composites. The main objective of the investigation is to conduct the wear test at room temperature for both the as-cast and age hardening conditions. Materials chosen for the study are Aluminum 7075 as a matrix, Silicon Carbide and Alumina are the reinforcements. Hybrid metal matrix composites are produced by utilizing stir casting route for 5–15 wt.% silicon carbide and alumina. Microstructural characterization of hybrid aluminum metal matrix composites reveals the homogeneous mixing of reinforcements. It is noticed that the higher composite hardness is obtained due to the raise in weight percentage of the reinforcement up to 10% of hybrid reinforcements. In the T6 heat treatment, there is a gain in hardness by 24% for optimum percentage of reinforcement i.e. 10% compare with as-cast composites.