WEAR, CORROSION AND MICROSTRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ON SiC–GNP-REINFORCED Al319 COMPOSITE FABRICATED THROUGH ELECTROMAGNETIC STIR CASTING

Metal matrix composites are developing because of the growing need for lightweight and high-strength materials in a variety of industrial applications. This work examined wear, corrosion, and microstructural characterization of an Al319 aluminum alloy composite reinforced with graphene nanoparticles (GNPs) and silicon carbide (SiC) by electromagnetic stir casting. The objective of this study was to improve the tribological and microstructural behavior of the Al319 alloy by adding SiC and GNPs as reinforcement materials. This study was performed in combination of 100% Al319 in base metal (BM), 20% SiC in mono reinforcement 1 (MR1), 5% GNPs in mono reinforcement 2 (MR2), 15% SiC and 5% GNPs in hybrid reinforcement 1 (HR1), 17% SiC and 3% GNPs in hybrid reinforcement 2 (HR2), and 19% SiC and 1% GNPs in hybrid reinforcement 3 (HR3), respectively. The wear resistance of the composite was determined using varying loads and a pin-on-disk tribometer operating at varying sliding distances at a constant sliding velocity of 2[Formula: see text]m/s. Corrosion analysis is done with 1[Formula: see text]M concentrated acid solutions like HCl, HNO 3 , and H 2 SO 4 with different time durations. Under each test condition, the HR2 composite demonstrated higher wear resistance, lower friction coefficient, and reduced total wear rate compared to other composites. It also demonstrated that its microstructural improvements are effective by exhibiting improved corrosion resistance under various acidic conditions. The study results demonstrate that hybrid reinforcement methods provide optimum performance for the mechanical and tribological properties of Al319 composites. HR2 demonstrates superior durability and wear resistance properties, which is a suitable choice for its use in corrosive environment applications throughout automotive, aerospace, and marine industries.