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Mechanical properties and Dry sliding wear behavior of A2014 reinforced with Alumina

T.G. Rajiv1, Sangeeth.P.T2, M.H. Annaiah3, C.G. Ranjani4, Harendra Kumar H.V5
 Asst Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India1
P G student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India2
Professor and P G Coordinator, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore,Karnataka,India3
Asst Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India4
P G student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Acharya Institute of Technology, Bangalore, Karnataka, India5
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Abstract

In this study, A2014 alloys were reinforced with varied percentage of Alumina by liquid metallurgy route and tested for microstructure, mechanical properties and wear behaviour. The wear tests were conducted using Pin-on-Disc apparatus at a constant sliding velocity of 1m/s and wear load of 30 N. Microstructure revealed uniform distribution of reinforcement in the matrix resulting in improved mechanical properties and wear resistance compared to un-reinforced material. This improvement in mechanical properties and wear resistance may be attributed to improved bonding of reinforcement in the matrix.

Keywords
Composites, MMC’s, Microstructure, Mechanical properties, Wear behaviour, Heat treatment

INTRODUCTION
Aluminium-Silicon alloys possess light weight, high specific strength and good heat transfer ability which make them suitable material to replace components made of ferrous alloys. Al-Si alloys are widely used in all types of IC engines such as cylinder blocks, cylinder heads and Pistons. They find applications in aircraft pump parts, aircraft structure and control parts, automotive transmission, aircraft fittings, water cooled cylinder blocks and nuclear energy installations. Both hypoeutectic and hyper-eutectic alloys can be used as useful engine block materials on account of their adequate resistance and high strength to weight ratio. There are quite large numbers of studies made on the mechanical behaviour of Al-Si alloys. Attempts are made to increase the strength of Al-Si-Mg by various manufacturing processes, heat treatment, reinforcement of hard and soft reinforcements etc.
In this paper, an attempt is made to study the effect of Heat treatment on the Mechanical Properties and Tribological Behavior of A2014 and its Composites.

II. MATERIALS
A2014 alloys were reinforced with Alumina and were cast using liquid metallurgy route using permanent Moulds in the form of cylindrical bars of length 300mm and diameter 25mm.

III. TESTING
A: Microstructure
The samples for microstructure examination were prepared by following standard metallurgical procedures, etched in etchant prepared using 90 ml water, 4ml of HF, 4ml H2So4 and 2g CrO3 and were examined using Optical Microscope.
Figures 3.1 to 3.4 show the uniform distribution of ceramic reinforcement in A2014 matrix. The chinese script indicates the intermetallic compound of Aluminium with Cu, Si and Mn.
B: Hardness Test
The hardness tests were conducted as per ASTM E10 norms using Brinell Hardness tester. Tests were performed at randomly selected points on the surface by maintaining sufficient spacing between indentations and distance from the edge of the specimen.
Fig 3.5 shows hardness test specimens having size 20 mm diameter and 15 mm length. Fig shows the hardness values of as cast and heat treated composites. The hardness values increases with increased particulate addition up to 7.5% and thereafter a decrease in hardness value is observed. A quantum increase in hardness was observed with heat treatment with values as high as 92% for the heat treated A2014 material.
C: Tension test
Table IV shows plot of UTS of A2014 and its composites in as cast and heat treated condition. A2014 and A10 have UTS values 344.19 MPa and 296.32 MPa respectively after heat treatment compared to values of 137.74 and 143 MPa. This indicates that with 10% addition of Alumina heat treatment has resulted in 150% and 107% increase in UTS values.
Fig 3.8 shows the plot of Wear rate versus sliding distance of A2014 and its composites. A2014.0 has Wear rate of 1.66x10-5 gm/m where as A5 has 1.25x10-5 showing 32.8% reduction in Wear rate. This reduction in wear rate may be attributed to the formation of MML (Mechanically mixed layer) of A2014 and Alumina and increase in hardness achieved due to uniform distribution and bonding of the ceramic in the composite. The steep increase in Wear rate of both A2014 and its Composite after traversing through 1500M may be attributed to the increased temperature at pin Disc interface resulting in softening of the pin materials.

IV. CONCLUSION
Microstructure indicates uniform distribution of ceramic (Alumina) in the matrix resulting in good bonding of the particulates. The composite A5 has highest Wear resistance compared to heat treated A2014 and its composites.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We thank Dr. H. D. Maheshappa, Principal and Management of Acharya institute of Technology, Bangalore, India for motivating and providing research facilities at the institute.

Tables at a glance
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Figures at a glance
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