The Tribological Behavior of an In-Situ
Processed Magnesium Alloy-Based Metal
Matrix Composite
Arabinda Meher and Manas Mohan Mahapatra
Abstract Magnesium alloy-based in-situ processed composite [RZ5/10 wt.% TiB 2 ]
was synthesized using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis route and its
tribological behavior was investigated for the purpose of applications in the aerospace
industry. The wear behavior of both magnesium alloy (RZ5) and magnesium alloybased composite [RZ5/10 wt.% TiB 2 ] was studied using pin-on-disc wear testing
apparatus. The wear characteristics were analysed under different loading conditions
of 10, 20 and 30 N, and for sliding distance of 1000, 2000 and 3000 m. A significant
improvement in the wear resistance was observed by the addition of titanium diboride
(TiB 2 ) reinforcement to the RZ5 magnesium alloy matrix. It is concluded that with
an increase in the applied load, the wear loss reveals a noticeable increase with a
corresponding decrease in the coefficient of friction. Moreover, with an increase in
sliding distance, both wear loss and coefficient of friction were observed to increase.
The morphology of the worn surface of the magnesium alloy-based metal matrix
composite [RZ5/10 wt.% TiB 2 ] at the different operating conditions was examined
using an optical profilometer and a field emission scanning electron microscope.
Keywords Composite · Magnesium alloy (RZ5) · Tribological behavior ·
Pin-on-disc · Wear resistance
Introduction
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are being used for the development of various
components for automobile, aerospace, and marine applications because of their
properties like high specific strength, stiffness, and wear resistance. Metal matrix
composites possess the advantageous properties of both matrix and reinforcement,
which makes the materials suitable for various industrial applications [1]. Materials with lighter density help for energy saving and to improve fuel efficiency.
In search of that, magnesium is considered as the preferred material as it is 33%
A. Meher (B) · M. M. Mahapatra
School of Mechanical Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar,
Odisha 752050, India
e-mail: am39@iitbbs.ac.in
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
T. S. Srivatsan et al. (eds.), Metal-Matrix Composites, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65249-4_5
75
Processed Magnesium Alloy-Based Metal
Matrix Composite
Arabinda Meher and Manas Mohan Mahapatra
Abstract Magnesium alloy-based in-situ processed composite [RZ5/10 wt.% TiB 2 ]
was synthesized using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis route and its
tribological behavior was investigated for the purpose of applications in the aerospace
industry. The wear behavior of both magnesium alloy (RZ5) and magnesium alloybased composite [RZ5/10 wt.% TiB 2 ] was studied using pin-on-disc wear testing
apparatus. The wear characteristics were analysed under different loading conditions
of 10, 20 and 30 N, and for sliding distance of 1000, 2000 and 3000 m. A significant
improvement in the wear resistance was observed by the addition of titanium diboride
(TiB 2 ) reinforcement to the RZ5 magnesium alloy matrix. It is concluded that with
an increase in the applied load, the wear loss reveals a noticeable increase with a
corresponding decrease in the coefficient of friction. Moreover, with an increase in
sliding distance, both wear loss and coefficient of friction were observed to increase.
The morphology of the worn surface of the magnesium alloy-based metal matrix
composite [RZ5/10 wt.% TiB 2 ] at the different operating conditions was examined
using an optical profilometer and a field emission scanning electron microscope.
Keywords Composite · Magnesium alloy (RZ5) · Tribological behavior ·
Pin-on-disc · Wear resistance
Introduction
Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are being used for the development of various
components for automobile, aerospace, and marine applications because of their
properties like high specific strength, stiffness, and wear resistance. Metal matrix
composites possess the advantageous properties of both matrix and reinforcement,
which makes the materials suitable for various industrial applications [1]. Materials with lighter density help for energy saving and to improve fuel efficiency.
In search of that, magnesium is considered as the preferred material as it is 33%
A. Meher (B) · M. M. Mahapatra
School of Mechanical Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar,
Odisha 752050, India
e-mail: am39@iitbbs.ac.in
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
T. S. Srivatsan et al. (eds.), Metal-Matrix Composites, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65249-4_5
75