Investigation of the microstructure and wear behaviour of titanium compounds reinforced aluminium metal matrix composites

• Published in: Materials research express Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 26516 - 26531
• Main Authors: Mahesh, L, Vinyas, M, Reddy, J Sudheer, Muralidhara, B K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.02.2019
• Subjects: MMCs; powder metallurgy; sintering; TiC; TiN; TiO; wear
• ISSN: 2053-1591; 2053-1591
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/aaec4e

Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) find its potential application in recent times in the area of aerospace and automotive industries owing to their superior strength to weight ratio and high-temperature resistance. In the present study, an attempt has been made to develop titanium compounds reinforced aluminium MMCs using powder metallurgy technique. Titanium oxide (TiO2), Titanium carbide (TiC) and Titanium nitride (TiN) of 5, 10 and 15 weight percentage has been reinforced into pure aluminium matrix individually. The aluminium and reinforcement powder were mixed in a horizontal ball mill to obtain a uniform mixture followed by pressing in a cylindrical die under a compacting pressure of 300 MPa. The compacted specimens were subjected to a sintering process at a sintering temperature of 450 °C in a tube furnace under nitrogen atmosphere for 4 h. Tribological properties of unreinforced aluminium and titanium compounds reinforced aluminium MMCs are examined by using pin-on-disc test machine. The wear rate and frictional force are evaluated as a function of applied load, sliding time and weight percentage of each reinforcement particles.