Tribological study of Al-RHA MMC under lubricated condition

Abstract

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are materials that incorporate reinforcement materials to enhance their properties. One significant challenge associated with MMCs is the elevated cost of the reinforcement materials. To overcome this obstacle, it becomes necessary to explore affordable alternatives such as Rice Husk Ash (RHA). The present research investigates the Mechanical and Tribological Properties, specifically hardness and wear of aluminium alloy Al6061 reinforced with RHA using the stir casting technique. The volume fraction of RHA reinforcement varies between 4% and 12% by volume fraction. The tribological results are optimized using Taguchi method and Grey relational analysis. Micro-hardness tests were conducted on a Vickers micro-hardness tester reveal that the alloy's micro-hardness increases as the volume fraction of the reinforcement rises. Moreover, the wear decreases with higher volume fractions of RHA, indicating improved wear resistance for the composite material. In summary, the addition of RHA reinforcement enhances the mechanical and tribological properties of the aluminium alloy Al6061, as supported by the conducted studies.