Study of Wear and Friction of Al-Fe Metal Matrix Composite Produced by Liquid Metallurgical Method

A modified impeller mixing coupled with chill casting technique was used for the preparation of Al-Fe composite. The electrolytic grade iron powder of 300mesh size was dispersed in the melt of commercially pure aluminum. The iron content in the composite varied from 1.67 to 11.2 wt%. The presence of iron in the composite improved the ultimate tensile strength, 0.2% proof stress and the hardness. The ductility showed the adverse effect with increase of the iron content in the matrix. The results from microstructure showed the presence of second phase particles at the grain boundaries of aluminum-rich phase as well as within the grain itself which was confirmed by EPMA line as well as XRD analysis. These composite have also been subjected to wear and friction testing at different operating parameters. The XRD analysis was used to analyze the wear debris.