Mechanical and wear study of AA6061-egg shell powder-Y2O3 metal matrix composite

• Hardness increased by 28.83%, enhancing the wear resistance of AA6061-T6 composites. • Tensile strength improved by 22.58%, indicating better mechanical properties with reinforcements. • Wear rate reduced from 4.369 to 2.978 mm 3 /min, improving tribological performance . • SEM analysis confirmed uniform dispersion, reduced porosity, and enhanced bonding in the matrix. This work examines the mechanical and wears traits of metal matrix composites (MMCs) based on AA6061-T6 reinforced with yttrium oxide (Y 2 O 3 ) and egg shell powder (ESP). The composites were fabricated with varying reinforcement contents (ESP: 3–6 wt%, Y 2 O 3 : 2 wt%), and their effects on tensile strength (TS), hardness (HV), impact strength, elongation, wear rate, and friction coefficient were analyzed. Experimental results indicate a significant improvement in mechanical characteristics when reinforcements are added. While hardness and impact strength increased by 28.83 % and 23.33 %, respectively, tensile strength showed a maximum rise of 22.58 %. A reduction in elongation of up to 25 % was observed, indicating increased brittleness. Wear rate analysis demonstrated a substantial decrease with the lowest wear rate recorded at 2.978 mm 3 /min reflecting enhanced wear resistance, The friction coefficient also decreased, highlighting the role of ESP and Y 2 O 3 in improving tribological performance . The findings confirm that the addition of ESP and Y 2 O 3 enhances the overall performance of AA6061-T6, making it a promising material for structural and wear-resistant applications.