Publication

Abstract : The main objective of this study is to improve the hardness and wear resistance of AA 7075 by reinforcing Titanium Carbide (TiC) particles onto the aluminium alloy surface using Gas Tungsten Arc (GTA) as a heat source. Based on the number of trails, optimum GTA heat source parameters are finalized with reference to the proper fusion of base metal. After TiC is deposited onto the surface, three step post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) was employed to improve the hardness and wear resistance. The material was solution treated followed by water quenching and artificially aged. The Dry sliding wear tests were conducted using a pin on disc wear testing equipment and the wear rates were calculated by using weight loss method. An inverse relationship was found between wear rate and hardness. The increase in the microhardness was found to be 33 %. The wear rate increased with increase in the load but reduced with respect to increasing sliding velocity. The variation of COF with hardness was found to be almost constant. A detailed material characterization of as received AA 7075, after TiC reinforcement and after heat treating AA 7075 substrate was done using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), line - Energy dispersive X - ray spectrometry (Line-EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques.