Materials Today: Proceedings 37 (2021) 2974–2977

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Materials Today: Proceedings

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matpr

Investigation of tribological properties of aluminum oxidereinforced

aluminum alloy composites
Vikas Kumar Sharma
Department of Mechanical Engineering, GLA University, Mathura, UP, India

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The composites of the metal matrix are gaining attentions as they have a very significant applications
Received 14 August 2020 especially in areas like automobiles, aerospace and also in several other engineering areas the reason
Accepted 27 August 2020 for their increasing demands are due to their very good mechanical, physical and chemical properties.
Available online 16 January 2021
In this work an alloy of Al made up of the oxide of Al is synthesized with the help of a method involving
a new vortex combination and the technique pressurized of die casting. The ‘‘Dry-sliding” wearing prop-
Keywords: erties that are possessed by the Al alloy metal matrix of oxide of Al (Al2O3) are done by having a testing
Aluminum alloy
setup (apparatus) ‘‘Pin on Disc” wear test apparatus the temperature is kept 25 °C (room temperature).
Aluminum oxide
Dies casting
The alteration on the properties relating to the tribology of the MMC pin due to the speed of sliding
Friction and the normal loads when it is slided with disc of steel En36 are thus determined. The rate of wearing
Wear that increases as the value of the speed of sliding and that of normal loading increases. The rate of the
specific wear is inversely proportional to the normal loads. Also the friction coefficient reduces in accor-
dance with the value of the normal loading and the speed of sliding. The rate of wearing and the coeffi-
cient of friction Al alloy of oxide of Al MMC is having a lesser value as compared with the normal alloy of
Al.
Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-
ence on Newer Trends and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering: Materials Science.

1. Introduction the metallic compound. Al, Mg, Cu and its alloys are some common
metals that are used to generate the matrix. The phase of the rein-
A material composite contains a mixture of several different forcement present in composites could be in continuous form of
materials that are having a significant interfacing in between them fibers or it may also be in discontinuous form of the constituting
as claimed by Reinhart et al. in 1987 [1]. On the basis of various particles or fibers also the materials of the reinforcement are mate-
manufacturing method for MMCs that are available now a days rials of the advanced ceramics like the Al oxide, BN etc. The Isotro-
were developed by using several casting procedures like compo pic characteristics and the fabric ability as found in the fibers of the
castings, squeeze castings, stir castings and continuous casting discontinuous composites are inexpensive the composites of the
methods. As compared to the methods of castings as described continuous fibers as suggested by Rohtagi et al. in 1986 [2]. Adding
the technique of pressure casting is very useful and effective as the reinforced phase of the ceramics would improve the character-
one can get an enhanced wet ability and porosity is eliminated istics like abrasive, adhesive and the diffusive resistance to wear,
as under high pressure solidification could be observed. The most heating properties, strength, stiffness and the hardiness [3] (Pai
important benefit for this casting technique is that a very fine cast- et al 2006). The route for the processing of the liquid metal com-
ing part of micro structure could be obtained because of the solid- posites assists in the fabrication of the composite interface in order
ification in the highly precise cavity of the moldings. MMCs are the to provide the properties of the fractures to it as needed. Mixing
artificially synthesized materials that are developed by the consol- the particles of Al in the matrix would enhance its wear resistance
idation of the reinforced materials and the metal matrices. They and the also its strength in both of the lubricated and in dry condi-
contain a hard and stiff phase of reinforcement in the matrix of tions due to its fairly good compatibility to the matrix Rajan et al.
2006 [4]. The technique of the pressurized infiltration of casting
contains the infiltration of pressure of the liquefied metals to
E-mail address: [email protected] molds of the reinforced fiber. MMCs are generally fabricated by

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.08.709
2214-7853/Ó 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Newer Trends and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering:
Materials Science.
Vikas Kumar Sharma Materials Today: Proceedings 37 (2021) 2974–2977

techniques of powder manufacturing or the stir casting methods

[5]. The resistance of wear for the composites gets increased in line
with the increment in the fraction of the reinforced weight because
of the strong bonds present between the particles of the matrix and
higher value of the hardness of the particles of Al2O3 [6–9]. The
MMCs containing the bronze Al metals are synthesized by the
technique involving stir casting methods [10–14]. The wearing
properties of the MMC of Al have also been presented by a number
of researchers [15–18].

2. Experimental procedure

In this study the alloy of Al having 3 percent of Al2O3 by weight

is die casted, by using an Al alloy LM24 as the matrix and particles
of Al2O3 are having an average size of 16 mm used as a material of
reinforcement. The alloy of Al. is first melted in a ‘‘Graphite cru-
cible” in a controlled environment of temperature guarded by an
atmosphere of Ar gas.A stirrer of graphite is inserted to the cru-
cible for the process of mixing as soon as the temperature reaches Fig. 1. The microstructure of the plain LM24aluminum alloy.
to 850°c. The process of stirring is performed for about 45 min at
an rpm of 200. The preheating of the particles of Al2O3 is carried
3.1. Influence of normal load and sliding speed on wear
out at 200° and it is then imported to the vortex that is created
in alloys of the molten metal. Before each of the castings that is
There is a remarkable rise in the value of the rate of wear as
acting as a lubricant between the die and the liquefied (molten)
soon as the loading is increased from 9.8 N to 49 N as depicted
metal, die coat containing water is the applied to the inner surface
by Table 1. At higher values of the normal loads beacuse of the high
of the die. A cold chamber of 420 tones of a hydraulic die cast m/c
heat of friction that is developed the surfaces of pin turns out to be
is employed in order to make the castings. The temperature of
soft and becomes as much plastic to deform & then fracture, the
pour of the liquid metal is around 850°c and this liquid material
debris of the wear formed and it is having metal particles that
is introduced into the closed die runner having a velocity (ini-
are large and shining in nature. As the value of normally applied
tially) of 0.23 m sec 1 up to the gate of the runner. Then the speed
loadings increases the specific rate of wearing decreases margin-
of the runner is provided a movement of 1.8msec-1 for injecting
ally indicating a remarkable palstic deformation and the hardening
and at the same time to shot into the die mould. The mixture of
of work that are developed at higher value of loads as depicted in
the molten metal is then introduced to the sleeve of plunger
the Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The rate of wear and specific wear of plain Al
and then it is left to enter into the cavity of the die forcefully
LM24 alloy are having a higher values as compared to the Al
under 100 MPa pressure. The force of the shot is of the order of
alloy-Al2O3 composite because of its lesser value of the hardness.
420 tones is applied letting the die to cool simultaneously by
As sliding speed increases, the temperature rise is considerably
using the ‘‘Demineralized water”. Then at a temperature these
high and there is a tendency of softening of surface materials and a
MMC are ejected out of the die at 150°temp it is then let to be
greater degree of penetration by the relatively harder asperities.
cooled in air.
There is also an increased tendency of fracture and fragmentation
of asperities due to high strain rate subsurface deformation. These
2.1. Friction and wear tests factors result in an increased contact area resulting in higher wear.
The wear rate and specific wear rate increase with increase in slid-
In order to study the properties of the friction a commonly ing speeds. The Fig. 5 shows the wear surface of the aluminum
employed standard test is ‘‘Pin On Disc” setup [19]. In this experi- alloy-aluminum oxide composite at normal load of 29.4 N and slid-
mental work the characteristics of wearing and the friction for ing speed of 3 m/s. The studies of wear surface shows less abrasive
the composites of Al2O3-alloys of Al is examined with the help of and adhesive wear tracks on surfaces of the aluminum alloy-
‘‘pin on disk” setup; the testing specimen is of 8 mm in diameter aluminum oxide composites. Theparticle reinforcement signifi-
having a pin cylindrical in shape composed of Al alloy of Al2O3 com- cantly improved the wear resistance.
posite are allowed to mate to the En 36 disk of steel of 65 HRC.
These tests are done at a sliding speed of 3 m/s, 4 m/s & 5 m/s the
3.2. Influence of normal load and sliding speed on coefficient of friction
values of the normal loads are 9.8 N, 29.4 N and 49 N the distance
of sliding is kept at 500 m. The friction a load and wear values are
The friction coefficient is affected by the normal loading in case
regularly calculated / measured at a definite interval of the sliding
of Al alloy-Al2o3 composite and the various combinations of the
distances.

Table 1
3. Results and discussion Wear rate, mm3/m  10 3
at different normal loads and sliding speeds.

Normal load 9.8 N 29.4 N 49 N

In Fig. 1 a microstructure of LM24 alloy of the plain Al is shown.
LM24 3 m/s 0.21 0.57 0.93
This microstructure clearly indicates the ‘‘inter dendritic particles” LM24 + 3% wt Al2O3 0.17 0.45 0.73
of the eutectic Si and CuAl2in a solid sol. Al. matrix. The hardness of LM24 4 m/s 0.40 1.14 1.88
Al alloys of Al2O3 composite of ‘‘105BHN” is greater as compared LM24 + 3% wt Al2O34 m/s 0.33 0.93 1.53
to the LM 24 Al alloys of 96 BHN because of the hardening of the LM24 5 m/s 0.61 1.77 2.93
LM24 + 3% wt Al2O35 m/s 0.46 1.32 2.18
particulates.
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Vikas Kumar Sharma Materials Today: Proceedings 37 (2021) 2974–2977

Fig. 2. Specific wear rate vs. Normal load at 3 m/s.

Fig. 5. The wear surface of the aluminum alloy aluminum oxide composite.

Table 2
Coefficient of friction at different normal loads and sliding speeds.

Normal load 9.8 N 29.4 N 49 N

LM24 3 m/s 0.39 0.37 0.35
LM24 + 3% wt Al2O3 3 m/s 0.36 0.32 0.30
LM24 4 m/s 0.38 0.35 0.32
LM24 + 3% wt Al2O34 m/s 0.33 0.31 0.28
LM24 5 m/s 0.36 0.33 0.32
LM24 + 3% wt Al2O3 5 m/s 0.32 0.30 0.28

atrend of decreasing value as the value of the loads increases.

Due to the increased value of the normal loadingthe oxide of Fe
layer appeared on the surface because of the rise in the tempera-
Fig. 3. Specific wear rate vs. Normal load at 4 m/s. ture of surface and it would maintain the lubrication thus the fric-
tion value reduces. The coefficient of friction of Al alloy Al2O3
oxide composite is having a lesser value as compared to the plain
LM24 alloy of Al because of the high value of hardness of MMC.
When the speed of sliding is higher the temperature increases
that would generate thermal softening underneath the weared
out surfaces resulting in the alteration in the mechanism of wear
[20,21]. The layer of Fe oxide that is developed on the surface of
the pin and the value of friction coefficient is decreased.

4. Conclusion

With the help of the vortex technique and the methods of ‘‘Pres-
sure Die Castings” the Al alloys - Al2O3 ‘‘Aluminium oxide” com-
posed is generated. As the value of the speed of sliding and
normal loading increases the rate of wearing would also tends to
increase. Specific rate of wear decreases marginally on increasing
the value of the normal loadings. The resistance of wearing for
Fig. 4. Specific wear rate vs. Normal load at 5 m/s. palin Al alloys LM24 is less than that of the Al alloys of AL2O3.
The value of friction coefficient decreases with the increase in
the value of speed of sliding and normal loadings. The friction coef-
ficient of Al alloys- AL2O3 composite is having a lesser value than
sliding steel pairs for different values of normal loading are as pro-
that of the plain alloy of Al LM24.
vided in the Table 2. At lower values of the normal loads the asper-
ity contacts is very less in the action of plowing which causes the
increased values of the friction coefficients. The increased values Declaration of Competing Interest
of the normal loads would result the good conformity of the sur-
faces in contact that results in reducing the action of plowing The authors declare that they have no known competing finan-
and the friction coefficient. The coefficient of friction of the Al cial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared
alloy- oxide of Al-Fe and LM24 plain Al alloy composite indicates to influence the work reported in this paper.
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Vikas Kumar Sharma Materials Today: Proceedings 37 (2021) 2974–2977

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