Study of wear losses and frictional heat dissipation during dry sliding wear of ilmenite reinforced Al-alloy composite

In this investigation, ilmenite mineral reinforced Al-Si alloy matrix composite (AMC) has been developed. The wear behavior of the developed composites has been studied for their end application as break drum material to replace cast iron used in automobile industries. Ilmenite is one of the major sea beach mineral. AMC has been prepared through a low-cost stir-casting method in which 1 wt.% graphite (Gr)/tin (Sn) as a solid lubricant has been added during the fabrication of composites itself. The optical micrographs of AMC revealed uniform distribution of ilmenite particles throughout the matrix. The wear rate of the base LM30 alloy containing 17% Si and the developed composites has been studied at different normal loads at a constant velocity of 1.6 m.s(-1). Optimized data revealed a significant wear rate reduction due to solid lubrication provided by Gr/Sn (similar to 32%). The wear rate of composites has been compared with traditional cast iron used in brake drums under similar experimental conditions. Composites exhibit nearly identical wear behavior throughout the test. The microstructural study of wear track and debris revealed that Sn and Gr used as solid lubricants played a vital role in reducing the wear loss of the prepared composites. A theoretical study of frictional heat generated during dry sliding and its dissipation has been done to establish the operative wear mechanism in the composites.