INVESTIGATIONS ON THE INFLUENCE OF LASER SURFACE TREATMENT ON HARDNESS AND WEAR BEHAVIOUR OF AL-MMC PREPARED THROUGH POWDER METALLURGY ROUTE

Aluminium metal matrix composites (Al-MMCs) are extensively used in various industrial sectors, including aerospace, automotive, construction, and electronics, owing to higher hardness, low density, higher fatigue and specific strength. Powder metallurgy is an effective method for manufacturing composite materials. Compared to pure metals and alloys, the mechanical characteristics of the SiC-reinforced MMCs are enhanced. The Al-MMC surface can undergo metallurgical changes due to the laser treatment, which can also strengthen the binding between the matrix material and the reinforcement particles. Therefore, the current work investigates the impact of SiC particle addition and laser surface treatment on the hardness and wear characteristics of aluminium metal matrix composite (Al-MMC). The Al-MMC is initially fabricated using a powder metallurgy process, and then the MMC is treated with a laser. Compared to the untreated MMC, the laser surface treatment increased the hardness by almost 12%. Additionally, the addition of SiC content by 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% in laser-treated Al-MMC resulted in increased hardness by 12%, 14%, 15%, and 16%, respectively, compared to untreated Al-MMC. Furthermore, the wear resistance improved as the reinforcement particles increased. The laser-treated samples exhibited lower wear than untreated ones due to the formation of a new layer on the treated surface, preventing the release of SiC particles. The surface treatment of MMC through the laser is a novel approach to fabricating wear-resistant Al-MMCs.