Volume no :6, Issue no: -1, July and October (2012)

Journal of Materials Science and Engineering with Advanced Technology

AN INVESTIGATION INTO TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF Al-TiN-GRAPHITE NANO-COMPOSITES FABRICATED BY FRICTION STIR PROCESSING

Author's: M. MANSUMI, F. MADANI SANI, S. F. KASHANI-BOZORG and H. R. ZAREIE RAJANI
Pages: [29] - [45]
Received Date: October 30, 2012
Submitted by:

Abstract

The present study aims to fabricate the surface aluminum-TiN-graphite composite through friction stir processing (FSP), and investigate the tribological features of the produced composite. Microhardness profiles, pin-on-disk test and both optical and electron microscopy are used to probe the characteristics of the surface composite. The results indicate that using the blend of TiN/graphite as reinforcing component rather than individual graphite or TiN improves the wear resistance of composite. According to the outcomes, existence of graphite hinders clustering of TiN particles and also lubricates the contact surface, all leading to a mild wear regime. It is also shown that wear resistance of the fabricated composite depends on the ratio of TiN to graphite, where the optimum resistance is obtained at a TiN/graphite volume ratio of 0.2. Moreover, it is observed that hardness distribution through the fabricated composite is not uniform, and a maximum hardness occurs below the surface, which does not shift by altering the TiN/graphite ratio.

Keywords

composite, friction stir processing, aluminum, tin, graphite, tribology.