Studies on Erosion Wear Behavior of Aluminum-3 Magnesium-10 Silicon Carbide Composite

Abstract

Aluminum-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer potential for advanced structural applications when high specific strength and modulus as well as good elevated temperature resistance along with light weight are important. In the present work, aluminum alloy-silicon carbide composite (Al-3Mg-10SiC) is developed using the stir-casting technique and is subjected to study the wear behavior. Solid particle erosion on Al-3Mg-10SiC was conducted. Implementation of design of experiments (through Taguchi and statistical techniques) in analyzing the erosion behavior of composites is made. The surface morphology is investigated by electron microscopy. The roughness of the eroded surface is measured throughout the course of erosion to study the mechanisms operating during the erosion.