Characterization of Al–Si12Fe/silicon nitride composites based on microstructure and influence of weight fraction of silicon nitride particles on the mechanical and tribological behaviour. (10th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Prabhu Rubesh, G; Ramesh, A; Ebenezer Jacob Dhas, D S; Thankachan, Titus
• Is Part Of: Materials research express. Volume 6:Number 7(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-04-10
• Subjects: aluminium matrix composites -- Al–Si12Fe alloy -- silicon nitride -- wear -- scanning electron microscopy -- electron back scattered diffraction; Materials science -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/ab149d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-1591

Abstract

Abstract: In the present study, Al–Si12Fe alloy/silicon nitride (Si3 N4 )p composites were processed through the stir casting route, due to its cost-effectiveness and availability. Vickers microhardness and tensile tests were conducted to examine the effect of the intrinsic parameter (weight fraction of the silicon nitride particles) on the mechanical behavior of the composites. Also, the composite samples were tested under the pin-on-disc wear tester, by varying the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters such as weight fraction of the silicon nitride particles, load, sliding velocity and sliding distance. For the wear tests, the Taguchi L27 orthogonal array was employed for designing the experiments. SNR (Signal-to-noise ratio) analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed for estimating the level of significance of each parameter on the dry sliding wear of the composites. Also, the microstructure of the composites was examined using SEM and EBSD and it was revealed that the wear mechanisms were predominantly due to abrasion and de-lamination, which resulted in the formation of microgrooves over the surfaces and the grain refinement of the composites was greatly influenced by the weight fraction of the silicon nitride particles.