EFFECT OF TiB₂ ON TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF AS-CAST Zn-Al-Cu/SiC COMPOSITES USING TAGUCHI AND ANOVA TECHNIQUES

The present study presents an evaluation of the tribological properties of the as-cast Zn-Al-Cu alloy-based hybrid metal matrix composite and also the effect of the weight percent of TiB2. The hybrid composites were fabricated using ultrasonic assisted stir casting with 5 wt.% silicon carbide (SiC) and varying X wt.% (0, 5, 10) of titanium diboride (TiB2). A pin-on-disc type tribometer was used to ascertain the tribological properties like the wear rate and coefficient of friction (COF). The influence of various parameters like the weight percentage of TiB2 particles (0, 5 and 10 %), loads (10, 20 and 30 N) and sliding speeds (0.25, 0.5 and 1 m/s) on the tribological behaviour was determined using the L9 orthogonal array for Taguchi and ANOVA.