MECHANICAL AND WEAR BEHAVIOUR OF HEAT TREATED ALUMINIUM-CLAY COMPOSITE

In this paper, the mechanical and wear characteristics of T6 heat treated Al-Clay composite with 15 wt.%  at 250µm particle size produced via stir casting method were studied. The samples were solutionised at 500, 550 and 600˚C then quenched in air, oil and water. The samples were artificially aged at 180˚C for 6 hours. Tensile and Vickers hardness tests were conducted on the sample in accordance with ASTM E8/E8M-13 standards. The wear tests were carried out on both pin-on-disc wear-testing machine and in dry sliding conditions at two different loads (4N and 10N) and three sliding speeds (200, 500 and 1000 rpm). Results show that the water quenched composite samples solutionised at 550˚C demonstrated superior mechanical and wear properties. The wear behaviour of the developed composite shows dependence on load, speed and the volume fraction of clay particles. From the results it is concluded that the mechanical and wear properties of Al 6063-clay composite can be enhancedthroughT6 heat treatment process