MECHANICAL AND TRIBOLOGICAL PERFORMANCE OF AL7050 AMALGAMATED WITH BN-TIB2 MMC

Abstract

The influence of fabrication on the structure and strength of reinforcement (TiB2 & BN) and Al alloy composite has been studied. Al 7050 is chosen as matrix and TiB2 & BN are selected as reinforcement. This Research work deals with the fabrication, tribological and mechanical behavior of Al based TiB2 & BN matrix composite. The key properties that make Al a dominant material over additional characteristics are minimal weight, high strength and ease of machinability. TiB2 & BN which are highly thermal stability and high strength, low density and easily available at moderate cost is included as a reinforcement. In this case, Stir casting, which entails combining the necessary amounts of additives into stirred molten Al, completes the fabrication. Each fabrication carries the TiB2 & BN reinforcement content varied from 0wt. % - 5wt. %. Following solidification, the samples were prepared as per ASTM standards. They are further tested and computed to find the mechanical and tribological properties like wear properties, tensile, compression, hardness, corrosion and SEM Analysis. The tensile strength of the composite material increased by 67% at 5wt%, compressive strength increased by 13% at 0.5wt% and Hardness increased by 28% at 3wt% reinforcement. The wear resistance of the composite material increased by 50% compared to Al7050 without reinforcement. The reinforcement is uniformly distributed in the metal matrix and thus the propagation of cracks at the grain boundaries is slowed down or halted which improves the overall strength of the MMC. The corrosion rate for all wt% of the composite material is uniform and is at a rate of 0.001 mm/day or 0.33mm/yr.