"Evaluating the mechanical and tribological characteristics of aluminium hybrid composites incorporating ZrO2 and graphite micro-particles "

This study uses the stir casting method to evaluate how reinforcements enhance wear resistance in aluminium-based hybrid metal matrix composites.Zirconia (ZrO2) and graphite were used to reinforce AA6082.Archimedes' method assessed density and porosity, Vickers hardness tested hardness, and a universal test machine measured tensile strength.Results showed improvements in micro-Vickers hardness, porosity, and tensile strength from 84 VHN, 2.44 %, 132 MPa (AHC5) to 128 VHN, 3.23 %, and 180 MPa (AHC15).Wear properties were tested under varied loads and sliding speeds, revealing that the wear rate decreases with higher speeds but increases with load.ZrO2 demonstrated superior wear resistance in AHCs, while graphite proved highly effective as a solid lubricant.These findings underscore the effectiveness of specific reinforcements in enhancing wear properties in metal matrix composites.