Optimization of Friction and Wear Behaviour in Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites Using Taguchi Technique

V. C. Uvaraja, N. Natarajan

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, India.
RVS Faculty of Engineering, Coimbatore, India.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2012.118063                

Abstract

Al-7075 alloy-base matrix, reinforced with mixtures of silicon carbide (SiC) and boron carbide (B4C) particles, know as hybrid composites have been fabricated by stir casting technique (liquid metallurgy route) and optimized at different parameters like sliding speed, applied load, sliding time, and percentage of reinforcement by Taguchi method. The specimens were examined by Rockwell hardness test machine, Pin on Disc, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Optical Microscope. A plan of experiment generated through Taguchi’s technique is used to conduct experiments based on L27 orthogonal array. The developed ANOVA and the regression equations were used to find the optimum wear as well as co-efficient of friction under the influence of sliding speed, applied load, sliding time and percentage of reinforcement. The dry sliding wear resistance was analyzed on the basis of “smaller the best”. Finally, confirmation tests were carried out to verify the experimental results.

Keywords

Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites; Stir-Cast; Dry Sliding Wear, Orthogonal Array; Taguchi Technique; Analysis of Variance

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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