The damping capacity and sliding wear behavior of an aluminum alloy metal matrix composite: role of reinforcement

Lightweight composite materials require a healthy combination of mechanical strength, wear resistance, and good damping capacity for purpose of selection and use in engine and structural parts of the industries spanning automobile and aerospace. In this short and succinct paper, the salient aspects of an aluminium alloy reinforced with particulates of titanium diboride (TiB₂) are presented and discussed. Salient aspects specific to measurement of damping capacity using experimental modal analysis are neatly presented. The tribological behaviour of the engineered aluminium alloy metal matrix composite and the role and contribution of different sliding variables are presented and adequately discussed through pin-on-disc tests. The damping capacity of the TiB₂ particulate-reinforced aluminium alloy revealed an observable improvement over the as-cast counterpart and comparable to grey cast iron. The intricacies specific to tribological behaviour of the engineered aluminium alloy composites is highlighted with respect to microscopic segregation of the particulate reinforcement (TiB₂) coupled with the role of test parameters. The fundamental strengthening and damping mechanism governing behaviour of the chosen composite is neatly detailed considering the conjoint and mutually interactive influences of reinforcement agglomeration, nature of loading, and interfacial bonding.