Evaluation of the Taguchi method for wear behavior of Al/SiC/B 4 C composites

Abstract

In this study, the wear behaviors of aluminum matrix composites with an A360 matrix reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) and boron carbide (B₄C) ceramic particles using Taguchi method were investigated. Wear tests of unreinforced aluminum alloy and Al17%SiC and Al17%B₄C particles reinforced aluminum composites (Al/17%SiC and Al/17%B₄C, respectively) versus AISI316L stainless steel disc were carried out for a dry sliding condition in a so-called a pin-on-disc arrangement. The wear tests were realized at the sliding speeds of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m s⁻¹ and under the loads of 10, 20, and 30 N. The obtained average specific wear rates for Al/17%B₄C and Al/17%SiC composites are lower than unreinforced aluminum specific wear rate under the same test conditions. The experimental results are transformed into a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of using Taguchi method. Type of the material, applied load, and sliding speed exert a great effect on the specific wear rate, at 48.13%, 31.83%, and 8.77%, respectively. The estimated S/N ratio using the optimal testing parameters for specific wear rate were calculated and a good agreement was observed between the predicted and actual specific wear rate for a confidence level of 99.5%.