Understanding the microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of AA8011-reinforced nano-
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Understanding the microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of AA8011-reinforced nano-Si3N4 for automobile application J. Fayomi 1 & A. P. I. Popoola 1 & O. M. Popoola 2 & O. P. Oladijo 3 & O. S. I. Fayomi 1,4 Received: 5 March 2020 / Accepted: 7 September 2020 / Published online: 24 September 2020 # Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Nanoceramic-reinforced aluminum composites have been utilized in most engineering applications such as the automotive and aerospace components due to their mechanical strength efficiency, and tribological performances. In this research, efforts were made to develop AA8011 composite with varying weight fraction of nano-Si3N4 up to 20% in a step of 5 through a two-step stir casting process. Scanning electron and the optical microscope were employed to investigate the microstructural evolution and modification of the developed composite, which reveals even dispersion of Si3N4 particulates. The X-ray diffraction analysis was conducted to check the phases present, and the broad peak shows mainly the presence of Si3N4. Likewise, the mechanical properties, viz, ultimate tensile strength, yield strength propagation, and hardness, were examined to determine the strengthening mechanism of the developed composite. The results show that the reinforced composite possesses better mechanical properties compared with the unreinforced AA8011 and the composite with 20% Si3N4 inclusion had the best properties. Moreover, the wear behavior and the friction coefficient of the developed composite results depicted an enhanced wear resistance and decrease in the coefficient of friction by increasing the Si3N4 particulate, though the wear rate increases with an increase in the applied load from 20 to 40 N. Keywords Stir casting . AA8011/Si3N4 . Metal matrix composites . Mechanical . Tribological . Microstructures
1 Introduction In the recent dispensation of engineering applications mostly in automobiles, interest has been greatly diverted to lighter materials with better strength, i.e., principle of lightweight to strength ratio. Hence, better efficiency and lightweight * J. Fayomi [email protected]; [email protected] 1
Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, P.M.B. X680, Pretoria, South Africa
2
Centre for Energy and Electric Power, Department of Electrical Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, P.M.B. X680, Pretoria, South Africa
3
Department of Chemical, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Private Bag, 16 Palapye, Botswana
4
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Covenant University, P.M.B, Ota 1023, Nigeria
composite can be regarded as the best feasible solution for satisfying various requests of the manufacturing industries [1]. The fabrication of composite has shown to be one of the simplest and flexible processes to enhance the properties of the material with distinctive
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