Synergistic Effects of Copper and Silicon Carbide Reinforcements on the Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Al7075 Hybrid Composites

Al7075 aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) are widely used in high-performance engineering applications due to their excellent strength-to-weight ratio and wear resistance. The present work focuses on the fabrication and characterization of Al7075-based composites reinforced with copper (Cu) and silicon carbide (SiC) particles using the stir casting technique. Stir casting was selected owing to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for large-scale production. Composites were prepared with different weight percentages of Cu and SiC, with magnesium added to improve wettability between the matrix and reinforcements. The fabricated composites were subjected to mechanical testing, including hardness and tensile strength measurements, along with tribological evaluation through sliding wear tests. The results indicate that the addition of Cu and SiC significantly enhances hardness, strength, and resistance of the Al7075 alloy. However, excessive reinforcement content may lead to porosity and reduced toughness. Overall, the study confirms that optimized reinforcement content and processing parameters play a crucial role in achieving improved mechanical and tribological performance of Al7075 hybrid composites.