Investigating the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of AA 7075 Hybrid Metal Matrix Composite with ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃

Abstract

Modern materials for lightweight, high-strength applications in the automotive and aerospace industries have gained popularity as hybrid metal matrix composites. AA 7075 was chosen for the metal matrix in this study due to its superior castability, compatibility, and extensive use in the aerospace and automotive industries. The main reason zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) was used as one of the reinforcements was to take advantage of its unusual crystal structure. In addition, aluminium oxide (Al2O3) was chosen as a reinforcement due to its remarkable wear-resistant qualities. CNC technology was used to create test specimens once the composite was developed through casting. Micrograph studies, tensile strength tests, micro hardness tests, wear tests, and corrosion behaviour tests were among the several tests that were carried out. A maximum value of 82.9 at a 200kgf force was recorded during micro hardness tests using a Vickers micro hardness tester, which is a 70% increase over the parent alloy. A pin-on-disc Ducom wear test device was used for the wear testing, which showed a noticeable improvement in wear resistance compared to the ground alloy AA7075. ZrO2 and Al2O3’s outstanding tribological qualities are responsible for this enhancement. This study work successfully developed a hybrid metal matrix composite with excellent characteristics, providing improved performance for aerospace and automotive applications