Tribological Performance Evaluation of Self-Lubricating Ceramic Reinforced Aluminum-Based Composites

This study used the powder metallurgy method to produce particle-reinforced hybrid Al metal matrix composites (HAMMCs). The synergistic effects of adding graphite-TiO2 and ZrO2 reinforcement to the Al matrix on the microstructure development, hardness, and wear behavior of hybrid aluminum metal matrix composites were researched. Hybrid composite samples produced after sintering, phase and microstructure analysis, density measurement, hardness, and wear behavior have been studied experimentally. Microstructural observation shows reinforcements are partially homogeneously distributed in the Al matrix. Dual-oxide reinforcement improved hardness more remarkably than mono-oxide reinforcement in the produced samples. The highest hardness value is obtained in the Al–5% TiO2 + 5% ZrO2 + 2% C composite. The lowest COF values of composite samples are obtained with dual-oxide reinforcement. Al–5% TiO2 + 5% ZrO2 + 2% C composite has the highest wear resistance.