Evaluation of the Taguchi method for wear behavior of Al/SiC/B4C composites

In this study, the wear behaviors of aluminum matrix composites with an A360 matrix reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) and boron carbide (B4C) ceramic particles using Taguchi method were investigated. Wear tests of unreinforced aluminum alloy and Al17%SiC and Al17%B4C particles reinforced aluminum composites (Al/17%SiC and Al/17%B4C, respectively) versus AISI316L stainless steel disc were carried out for a dry sliding condition in a so-called a pin-on-disc arrangement. The wear tests were realized at the sliding speeds of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m s(-1) and under the loads of 10, 20, and 30 N. The obtained average specific wear rates for Al/17%B4C and Al/17%SiC composites are lower than unreinforced aluminum specific wear rate under the same test conditions. The experimental results are transformed into a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of using Taguchi method. Type of the material, applied load, and sliding speed exert a great effect on the specific wear rate, at 48.13%, 31.83%, and 8.77%, respectively. The estimated S/N ratio using the optimal testing parameters for specific wear rate were calculated and a good agreement was observed between the predicted and actual specific wear rate for a confidence level of 99.5%.