EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS ON ALUMINIUM COMPOSITES: WEAR AND MACHINING CHARACTERISTICS OF HYBRID COMPOSITES

Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs) offer superior strength, stiffness, wear resistance and low density compared to unreinforced alloys. AMCs reinforced with SiC, graphite and other carbides, nitrides, borides and oxides are widely used, with stir casting being the preferred fabrication method. Composite properties depend on type, size and distribution of reinforcements, and processing factors such as stirring speed, temperature and time. Wear behaviour is influenced by load and sliding distance, while EDM machining characteristics like MRR, TWR and surface roughness depend on current, pulse-on-time, voltage and flushing pressure. To overcome trial-and-error optimization, regression and ANN models were developed to predict weight loss and machining responses using CCD-based experiments. Heat treatment, hardness and SEM studies were performed to analyse ageing effects and particle distribution. The results support industries in predicting wear, machining performance and designing AMC components such as automotive brake drums.

Pagina's: 168, Paperback, LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing