Steady-State Wear Behavior of Multi-Scale Hybrid Composite-AA6061/Al2O3 (μm)/Si3N4 (nm)/Graphite-EN31 Steel Tribo System

Hybrid metal matrix composites play a key role in the selection of advanced materials for automotive and aircraft structures in order to ensure the superior tribological properties. This research work highlighted the significance of Si3N4 nanoparticles and premixing of reinforcement with metal powder in steady-state wear behavior of AA6061/Al2O3/Si3N4/Gr hybrid nanocomposites. The dry sliding wear test using Pin-on-Disc apparatus was conducted by following ASTM G99 standard. This research work also reported the influence of normal load on wear loss and coefficient of friction for the sliding distances up to 12 km. Si3N4 nanoparticles significantly influenced the wear resistance of the hybrid nanocomposites by forming a well compacted tribo layer and the layer was retained at longer sliding distances. The composite with single ceramic reinforcement Al2O3, premixed with metal powder, showed abrasive wear. The composites with single ceramic reinforcement Al2O3, without premixing, showed delamination and third body wear during wear process.