Tribological Characterization of Precipitation Hardened 7075 Aluminium Alloy Composites Reinforced with Cast Iron Particle

This study investigates the impact of metal reinforcement on wear properties in aluminum metal matrix composites (AMMCs), specifically focusing on microstructure, tribological behavior, and material removal patterns.Precipitation hardening treatment is commonly used to enhance the characteristics of heat-treatable aluminum alloys and their composites.The experiment reveals a 50.2% reduction in mass loss with alloy reinforcement and a 67.2% reduction with precipitation treatment.Both treated and untreated samples show a consistent reduction in wear rate as reinforcement content increases.Heat treatment facilitates the production of refractory precipitates, enhancing composite hardness and lowering wear rates.The AMMC (Al-Zn-Mg) 6wt.%GCI composite demonstrates exceptional wear properties.