Optimization on friction and sear behaviour of Al-Si alloy reinforced with B4C particles by Powder Metallurgy using Taguchi design

This research paper discusses the friction and wear behaviour of Al-12Si alloy reinforced with B4C prepared through Powder Metallurgy (P/M) method by varying the weight percentage of reinforcement (x = 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) content. The samples were prepared by using die and punch assembly and the lubricant used to eject the sample from the die was molybdenum disulfide. The compaction was done by using a compression testing machine by applying a pressure of 800 MPa. The dry sliding friction and wear behaviour of the sample was conducted on a Pin-on-Disc machine and the experimental values of friction and wear were calibrated. The Taguchi design experiment was done by applying an L25 orthogonal array for 3 factors at 5 levels for the response parameter Coefficient of Friction (CoF) and wear loss. The SEM images show the shape, size and EDX confirm the existence of AI, Si, B4C particles in the composites. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for CoF of S/N ratio, shows that the reinforcement having 34.92% influence towards the S/N ratio of CoF, ANOVA for wear loss of ratio shows that the sliding distance having 46.76% influence towards the S/N ratio of wear loss, when compared to that of the other two input parameters. The interaction line plot and the 2Dsurface plot for Col' and wear loss show that the increase in B4C content decreases the wear loss and CoF. The worn surface shows that the B4C addition will increase the wear resistance.