COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TRIBOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AA2024+10% FLY ASH COMPOSITE IN NON-HEAT TREATED AND HEAT TREATED CONDITIONS

Abstract

There has been search for the low cost and low density reinforcements for reducing the cost of composites. One prospective reinforcement in this regard is the fly ash, which is abundantly available as a waste product from thermal power plants. Because of unique nature of physical and chemical properties of the fly ash it is tried as reinforcement by many researchers in the recent past. In the present investigation composite used contains fly ash particles [10% by wt] reinforced with wrought aluminium alloy AA2024. The composite is tested for tribological behaviour in the Non-Heat Treated [NHT] and Heat-Treated [HT] conditions under different working parameters in a pin-on-disc tribometer. The results of the experiment indicate that the dispersion of fly ash particles in the AA2024 alloy matrix would increase the wear resistance of matrix alloy. It's observed that a significant improvement in wear performance is achieved by heat treating the composite. The water quenched specimen showed a better properties as compared to air cooled and NHT counterparts.