Tribological and mechanical behavior of particulate aluminum matrix composites

Aluminum and its alloy are light in weight, ductile, strong and long lasting, having high corrosion resistance, good conductor of heat and electricity and are 100% recyclable. Despite all these good qualities, it has low wear resistance. But some applications entail high hardness and tensile strength, high modulus of elasticity than the conventional aluminum alloy with good tribological properties. Keeping in view the enhancement of mechanical as well as tribological properties with reduction in weight, the aluminum alloy is reinforced with a second phase which is hard and brittle, and the newly formed material has better mechanical and tribological properties. The paper reviews the various manufacturing processes of aluminum matrix composites, and it was found that the mechanical and tribological properties of the single reinforcement composites are better as compared to pure aluminum and its alloys irrespective of the aluminum matrix composites manufacturing process. Further, it was found that most of the hybrid composites exhibit better mechanical and tribological properties as compared to single reinforcement composites.