http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/index.asp 191 editor@iaeme.com International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 8, Issue 9, September 2017, pp. 191–200, Article ID: IJCIET_08_09_021 Available online at http://http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=9 ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316 © IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE WEAR CHARACTERISTICS OF HEAT TREATED ALUMINIUM HYBRID COMPOSITES C. Velmurugan Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India ABSTRACT The present experimental investigation was aimed to study the wear characteristics of an aluminium hybrid composite subjected to heat treatment. The matrix material selected for this study was Al6061. The reinforcement materials used are silicon carbide (SiC) and graphite particulates. The composites specimens have been prepared using stir casting method with 10 wt% of SiC and 2, 4 wt% of graphite particles. The prepared composite specimens and unreinforced alloy have been subjected to a temperature of 530°C for one hour. It is then followed by water quenching. Then artificial ageing to the quenched samples are done with different ageing durations like 4, 6, 8 hr at a temperature of 175°C. Rockwell hardness measurements were made using ‘B’ scale. Wear tests were carried out on the heat treated as cast 6061 alloy and its composites using pin-on-disc machine. Microstructure of the wear surface of heat treated composite specimens was taken using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to study the wear mechanism. From this experimental study, it is concluded that heat treatment had a significant effect on hardness and wear property of both the unreinforced alloy its composites. Key words: Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites (AMCs), Heat treatment, Stir casting, Wear. Cite this Article: C. Velmurugan, Experimental Study On The Wear Characteristics of Heat Treated Aluminium Hybrid Composites, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(9), 2017, pp. 191–200. http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=8&IType=9 1. INTRODUCTION Composite material is a combination of two or more materials such that its property is superior to the base materials. These materials have better mechanical and physical properties such as high strength and hardness (Basavarajappa et al., 2007). Aluminium Hybrid Composite usage is increasing day by day in the entire manufacturing sector especially in automotive industries due to their excellent properties. To fabricate aluminium hybrid composites for a particular application, selection of matrix and reinforcement materials plays a very important role (Das,