Effect of stir cast process parameters on wear behaviour of copper coated short steel fibers reinforced LM13 aluminium alloy composites

Abstract

Copper coated steel fibers reinforced LM13 aluminium alloy composites have been prepared using stir casting process. Experiments have been designed using response surface methodology (RSM) by varying wt% of reinforcement (0–10), pouring temperature (700–800 °C) and stirrer speed (350–800 rpm). Microstructures and dry sliding behaviour of composites have been investigated and reported. Composites prepared using high stirring speed shows uniform dispersion of reinforcement throughout the matrix. Regression equation is developed to predict the weight loss of composites and the error percentage is ±7. Response surface plots reveal that weight loss of composites decreased with increasing wt% of reinforcement and stirrer speed. Stir cast process parameters have been optimised for obtaining minimum weight loss and it's found to be a wt% of reinforcement of 8.17, pouring temperature of 778 °C and stirrer speed of 658 rpm. Worn surface shows fine grooves and shallow grooves in composites with higher wt% of reinforcement and delamination is observed for the composite contains lower wt% of reinforcement.