An Investigation of Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Heat Treated Al6082 Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites

In recent years, there has been an ever-increasing demand for enhancing mechanical properties of Aluminum Matrix Composites (AMCs), which are finding wide applications in the field of aerospace, automobile, defense etc.,. Among all available aluminium alloys, Al6082 is extensively used owing to its excellent wear resistance and ease of processing. Newer techniques of improving the hardness and wear resistance of Al6082 by dispersing an appropriate mixture of hard ceramic powder and whiskers in the aluminium alloy are gaining popularity. The conventional aluminium based composites possess only one type of reinforcements. Addition of hard reinforcements such as silicon carbide, alumina, titanium carbide, improves hardness, strength and wear resistance of the composites. However, these composites possessing hard reinforcement do posses several problems during their machining operation. During metal matrix investigation shows higher tensile and compression value at ratio-3 (ZrO2-4% +B4C+ 2% Es 2%) due to higher mass basis reinforcement enhanced the properties of this metal matrix composites. Ratio four is 6%-ZrO2 + 3% B4C +3% Es shows highest hardness value 71 HRB. During wear investigation found the wear rate the Ratio 3 is very low wear rate occurred. Four percentage Zirconium oxide with 2% Boron carbide and 1% graphite reinforcement is occurred very low wear rate. Impact values obtain maximum at without metal matrix ratio.