EFFECTS OF ZnO AND GRAPHITE PARTICULATES ON MECHANICAL AND WEAR CHARACTERISTICS OF Al-Si ALLOY HYBRID COMPOSITES

Year 2018, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 19 - 27, 30.06.2018

Stephen Durowaye , Olatunde Sekunowo Ganiyu Lawal James Orji

Abstract

Aluminium
alloys exhibit some outstanding properties which make them to be widely used in
many applications. This study examined the effect of particles of ZnO and
graphite on mechanical and wear characteristics of Al-Si alloy hybrid
composites developed by stir casting method for automotive application. Zinc
oxide and graphite particles were thoroughly mixed in varied weight fractions
(11, 14, and 17 wt. %) with Al-Si alloy. The hybrid composite exhibited the
highest hardness and tensile strength values of 113.67 VHN and 163.67 MPa
respectively at 14 wt. % particles addition. The volume loss during wear
increased with speed and load but was marginal in the reinforced samples. The
microstructure showed good dispersion of particles of ZnO and graphite in the
Al-Si alloy. The mechanical and wear characteristics of the composites were
enhanced by the uniform distribution of the ZnO and graphite particles in the
Al-Si alloy matrix and the strong adhesion of alloy-particles phases.

Keywords

Al-Si alloy, hybrid composites, mechanical characteristics, wear characteristics

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