Tribological Characterisation of Fly Ash Reinforced Aluminium Alloy (Al6061) Composites

Abstract

The results of a study on the tribological properties of flyash particle reinforced Aluminium alloy -Al6061 composite samples processed by
stir casting route are reported in this paper. Two sets of composites with fly ash particle sizes of 45-50mm and 75-100mm were used. Each set had
three types of composite samples with reinforcement weight fractions of 10%, 15%, and 20%. Sliding wear tests were conducted using Pin-on-disc
apparatus with hardened steel disc as counterface material. Unreinforced Al6061 samples were also tested for sliding wear.
It was found that wear rate (WR) increased with increase in sliding velocity and decreased with increase in flyash particle size and test load
when slid against hardened steel counterface materials. The composite samples with 15% weight fraction fly ash particle showed minimum WR.
The surfaces of slid samples, when examined under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed that ductility of the matrix decreased with the
increase in weight fraction of the reinforcement. It is also found that 15% weight fraction of Flyash is optimal for minimum wear of composite.