Optimization of Sliding Wear Performance of Ti Metal Powder Reinforced Al 7075 Alloy Composite Using Taguchi Method

Abstract

Al 7075 matrix composite reinforced with titanium metal powder was fabricated by stir casting method. Microstructure and wear properties of matrix alloy and developed composites have been evaluated. The composites with varying filler content from 0 to 2 wt% Ti were fabricated using high vacuum casting machine technique. Dry sliding friction and wear tests were performed on multi-specimen tribotester machine over a normal load range of 20–80 N and sliding velocities of range 0.25–1.25 m/s. The experiments were carried out using Taguchi’s L25 orthogonal array, and the influence of working factors on wear rate was examined using ANOVA techniques. Results revealed that Al 7075 Ti alloy composite exhibited lower coefficient of friction and wear rate increased. Wear rate of composites increased with increased in load and sliding velocity. It is observed that the 2 wt.%Ti filled 7075 aluminium alloy composite is demonstrated minimum specific wear rate. Morphological studies on worn surface were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM).