Evaluation of Wear Properties of Stir Cast AA7050 -10% B₄C <i>Ex Situ</i> Composite through Fuzzy-TOPSIS MCDM Method

Abstract

The present paper discussed the dry sliding wear and friction behavior of flux assisted stir cast AA7050-10% B ₄C composite. The K ₂TiF ₆ flux improves the wettability of B ₄C in molten aluminium. The casted composite were heat treated as per T-6 standard. The microstructure studies confirm the uniform distribution of B ₄C with the layers of Ti compound around it. Both As Casted Composite hereafter called as ACC and Heat Treated Composite hereafter called as HTC under gone dry sliding wear test at room temperature. The experiments were designed using Taguchi L ₁₈ mixed design. The responses of the experiment were optimized using fuzzy-TOPSIS MCDM method. From the experimental investigation it was concluded that wear rate of the composite material is a function of normal loads and sliding speed. Moreover, wear rate, coefficient of friction and amount of heat generation for HTC is comparatively less than ACC. This may due to the homogeneous distribution of particles and also formation proper interfacial bond between matrix and reinforcements after heat treatment.