Title: Dry sliding wear behaviour of friction stir welded aluminum (6061)-B₄C composite

Authors: K. Kalaiselvan; N. Murugan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.S. Rangasamy College Technology, Tiruchengode 637215, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641 014, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Different weight percentage of B₄C particulates reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMCs) are fabricated by modified stir casting route. The produced AMCs are Friction Stir Welded (FSW) using a four factor five level central composite design matrix. The dry sliding wear properties of nugget zone of the FSW composites were analysed using a pin-on-disc wear testing machine. The presence of B₄C particulates and fine grain in the weld nugget improved the wear properties. The relationships between the wear rate of AMCs and friction stir welding process parameters were established using a regression model. The developed regression model was optimised to minimise the wear rate using the Generalised Reduced Gradient (GRG) method. The worn out surface characteristics of welded composites were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The numerous pits, grooves and wear tracks were observed in the microstructure.

Keywords: metal matrix composites; MMC; friction stir welding; FSW; design of experiments; DOE; regression modelling; optimisation; wear rate; mechanical properties; microstructure; dry sliding wear; aluminium composites.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2013.055386

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2013 Vol.8 No.3, pp.239 - 251

Published online: 02 Jan 2014 *

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