Experimental Study on the Wear Behaviour of Al–Cu–Mg/Bean Pod Ash Nano-particles Composites

The experimental study of the wear behavior of Al–3.7 %Cu–1.4 %Mg/bean pod ash (BPA) nano-particle composites was investigated in this paper. The BPA nano-particles were varied form 1–4 wt%. The wear rate of the Al–3.7 %Cu–1.4 %Mg alloy increased with increase in wt% of BPA nano-particles reinforcement at all temperatures and sliding distances. The transition in the wear mode from mild to severe wear was strongly influenced by the addition of BPA nano-particles. The alloy showed a transition from mild to severe wear at a sliding distance of 100–1000 m and sliding temperature of 100–200 °C. Analysis of wear surfaces by scanning electron microscopy revealed the predominant wear of Al–3.7 %Cu–1.4 %Mg alloy by means of deep grooves, adhesion and metal flow, whereas for the composites oxidation, delamination and metal flow are the most dominant wear mechanisms. The wear properties of the as-cast Al–3.7 %Cu–1.4 %Mg/BPA nano-particle have been improved significantly even with a low weight percent of BPA nano-particle.