Investigation of the microstructure-hardness and wear performances of hybrid/composite materials Al2O3/SiC particle reinforced in AA 7075 matrix

Abstract

As a result of advances in science and technology, the importance of metal matrix composite materials is increasing gradually today. However, in many studies, composite production is carried out with monotype ceramic particle reinforcement. In this study, the production, microstructure-hardness, and wear performance of composite-hybrid materials that had AA 7075 aluminum powder metal matrix and were reinforced by SiC and Al2O3 ceramic particles at different ratios were examined. The prepared Matrix and reinforcement powder mixtures were mixed for half an hour in the three-axis Turbula T2F type mixer and then, pressed unidirectionally and cylindrically under the pressure of 700 MPa. The pressed samples were sintered for 1 h at a temperature of 600oC in the argon atmosphere. Microstructure examinations were carried out using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and optical microscope devices, while hardness measurements were obtained as a result of Brinell measurement. Wear performance of the test samples were tested in the Pin-on-disk type device at 10 N load and 500 rpm rotation speed by depending on the wear distances at 1000, 1500 and 2000 m. It was observed that hardness increased as the amount of ceramic particle in composite-hybrid samples increased. As a result of wear tests, in hybrid composites, compared to single-phase ceramic particle reinforced composites, weight losses increased depending on the increase in the reinforcement amount.