High-stress abrasive wear behavior of Al-Mg-Si hybrid composites using regression analysis

Purpose - The purpose of the present study is to analyze the wear behavior of developed aluminum hybrid composites under high-stress conditions through developed power law and quadratic equations. Design/methodology/approach - The abrasive wear behavior of Al-Mg-Si (Al 6082) alloy reinforced with hard silicon carbide (SiC) and soft graphite (Gr) particulates fabricated by stir casting route was studied at loads of 5-15 N, sliding distance of 75 m and abrasive grit size of 100-200 mu m. The power law and quadratic equations were developed to understand the wear behavior with respect to the load applied and the abrasive grit size. The worn surfaces of the test specimens and grit papers were examined under scanning electron microscope. Findings - The density and hardness of the hybrid composites decreased when compared to Al-SiC composites, whereas the wear properties improved because of the presence of Gr. There was further improvement in the wear properties of the materials because of T6 heat treatment. The change in abrasive wear mechanism was observed at a grit size of 125 mu m when traversed from alloy to hybrid composite as indicated in terms of exponents in the power law equation. The worn surfaces of hybrid composite pins were comparable with those of alloy pins. Practical implications - In the automobile sector, components like cylinder liner, piston, crankshafts, brake drums, etc. also undergo abrasive wear along with sliding against the counter surface in working conditions. Originality/value - The results prove that better wear resistance was obtained under the abrasion condition.