Taguchi optimization of tribological properties of Al/SiC/graphite composite

Abstract

Investigation of tribological behaviour of the hybrid composite, whose substrate is Al/Si alloy A356, reinforced with 10 wt. (%) of silicon carbide (SiC) and 0 and 5 wt. (%) of graphite (Gr) is presented in this paper by application of the Taguchi method. The composites are obtained by the compocasting procedure. The tribological investigations were realised on the tribometer with the block-on-disc contact pair in lubricating conditions and for the two values of the sliding speed, 0.25 and 1 m/s, two values of load 40 and 120 N and two values of the sliding path, 1200 and 2400 m. The wear traces were measured within the experiment, namely the wear intensities were calculated and results analysis was performed by application of the ANOVA technique. The strongest influence on the wear intensity was exhibited by the normal load (39.05%), then follow wt. (%) of the reinforcer (26.84%), the sliding speed (20.93%) and the sliding path (10.72%). The smallest wear appears in hybrid composite Al/SiC/Gr with 5 wt. (%) of the graphite reinforces, at the lowest load of 40 N, sliding speed of 1 m/s and along the sliding path of 2400 m. The main aim of their study is to provide new information and knowledge about the tribological behaviour of hybrid composites with a base of Al-Si alloy A356 reinforced with 10 wt. (%) SiC and with the addition of 0 and 5 wt.% Gr under lubricated sliding conditions. © 2016, Scibulcom Ltd. All rights reserved.