Effect of Reinforcement Weight Fraction on the Mechanical and Tribological Performance of AA7075-T6 Based Metal Matrix Composites for Marine Bearing Applications

Abstract

In this study, the mechanical and tribological performance of Aluminum 7075-T6 based composited reinforced with
Titanium Diboride and Silicon Carbide has been investigated with relevance to marine applications. The composites were fabricated with TiB₂ content from 1 to 9 wt.% and SiC from 9 to 1 wt.%, respectively. Mechanical characterization, plastic flow behavior analysis and Tribological behavior, was carried out to evaluate the influence of reinforcement on material performance.

The findings show that the mechanical strength and wear resistance of the composites are improved and wear rate decreased with the incorporation of TiB2. The microstructural examination revealed fairly reinforcement particle dispersion in the matrix. Plastic deformation was found that the composite with 7 wt.% TiB₂ and 3 wt.% SiC was better in strain hardening. The general results indicate that hybrid composites developed can be considered for marine and structural applications where wear resistance and mechanical integrity is of great concern.