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An attempt was made to synthesize Cu/B4C surface composite using friction stir processing (FSP) and to analyze the influence of tool rotational speed on microstructure and sliding wear behavior of the composite. The tool rotational speed was varied from 800 to 1200 r/min in step of 200 r/min. The traverse speed, axial force, groove width and tool pin profile were kept constant. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the microstructure of the fabricated surface composites. The sliding wear behavior was evaluated using a pin-on-disc apparatus. The results indicate that the tool rotational speed significantly influences the area of the surface composite and the distribution of B4C particles. Higher rotational speed exhibits homogenous distribution of B4C particles, while lower rotational speed causes poor distribution of B4C particles in the surface composite. The effects of tool rotational speed on the grain size, microhardness, wear rate, worn surface and wear debris were reported.

The dry sliding wear behavior of AA6061 matrix composite reinforced with aluminium nitride particles (AlN) produced by stir casting process was investigated. A regression model was developed to predict the wear rate of the prepared composite. A four-factor, five-level central composite rotatable design matrix was used to minimize the number of experimental runs. The factors considered in this study were sliding velocity, sliding distance, normal load and mass fraction of AlN reinforcement in the matrix. The developed regression model was validated by statistical software SYSTAT 12 and statistical tools such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and student's t test. It was found that the developed regression model could be effectively used to predict the wear rate at 95% confidence level. The influence of these factors on wear rate of AA6061/AlNp composite was analyzed using the developed regression model and predicted trends were discussed with the aid of worn surface morphologies. The regression model indicated that the wear rate of cast AA6061/AlNp composite decreased with an increase in the mass fraction of AlN and increased with an increase of the sliding velocity, sliding distance and normal load acting on the composite specimen.

The microstructure and mechanical characterization of dissimilar friction stir welded AA5083-H111 and AA6351-T6 aluminum alloys were studied. Three different welding speeds (36, 63 and 90 mm/min) were used to weld the dissimilar alloys. The effect of welding speed on mechanical and metallurgical properties was analyzed. It is found that the welding speed of 63 mm/min produces better mechanical and metallurgical properties than other welding speeds. The weld zone is composed of three kinds of microstructures, namely unmixed region, mechanically mixed region and mixed flow region. The fracture mode was observed to be a ductile fibrous fracture.

The dry sliding wear behavior of AA6061/ZrB2 in-situ composite prepared by the reaction of inorganic salts K2ZrF6 and KBF4 with molten aluminum was investigated. An attempt was made to develop a mathematical model to predict the wear rate of AA6061/(0–10%) ZrB2 in-situ composites. Four-factor, five-level central composite rotatable design was used to minimize the number of experiments. The factors considered are sliding velocity, sliding distance, normal load and mass fraction of ZrB2 particles. The effect of these factors on the wear rate of the fabricated composite was analyzed and the predicted trends were discussed by observing the wear surface morphologies. The in-situ formed ZrB2 particles enhance the wear performance of the composite. The wear rate of the composite bears a proportional relationship with the sliding velocity, sliding distance and normal load.