EFFECT OF PROCESS PARAMETERS ON TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF AA8079-ZRB2 COMPOSITE VIA TAGUCHI TECHNIQUE.

Aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMCs) are currently widely engaged in industrial sectors. No other monolithic material can match the characteristics of AMMCs. AMMCs are stronger than traditional materials and have a wide range of industrial uses. This research work aims to study the tribological properties of AA8079/Zirconium boride (ZrB2) composite manufactured via the stir casting (SC) process. The different combinations of composites are AA8079/0wt.% ZrB2, AA8079/5wt.% ZrB2, AA8079/10wt.% ZrB2, and AA8079/15wt.% ZrB2. The parameters are reinforcement wt.% [A], load [B], sliding velocity [C], and sliding distance [D]. When designing experiments using the Taguchi method, an L16 orthogonal array was used. In order to determine which process parameter had the biggest influence on the output variables, wear rate (WR), coefficient of friction (COF), and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied. Successful fabrication of different weight fractions of ZrB2 was synthesized with AA8079 matrix through the SC process. The microstructural investigations revealed the dispersion of ZrB2 particles over the surface of the base AA8079. The response table clearly depicts that the combinations of A and C are the more dominant factor for WR, while the combinations of B and C are the more interacting parameters for COF. From the ANOVA results, it is clear that A with a 55.26% contribution, is the most predominant parameter in attaining the least WR, and for COF, B with a 31.39% contribution, is the major influencing parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]