Abstract—Al6061 alloy base matrix, reinforced with particles of silicon carbide (10 wt %) and Graphite powder (1wt%), known as hybrid composites have been fabricated by liquid metallurgy route (stir casting technique) and optimized at different parameters like applied load, sliding speed and sliding distance by taguchi method. A plan of experiment generated through taguchi technique was used to perform experiments based on L 27 orthogonal array. The developed ANOVA and regression equations are used to find the optimum coefficient of friction and wear under the influence of applied load, sliding speed and sliding distance. On the basis of “smaller the best” the dry sliding wear resistance was analysed and finally confirmation tests were carried out to verify the experimental results. Keywords—Analysis of variance, dry sliding wear, Hybrid composite, orthogonal array, Taguchi technique. I. INTRODUCTION HE composite materials constitute a matrix phase and a reinforcement phase and they both work together to produce combination of material properties that cannot be met by the conventional materials [1]. Most of the research made in aerospace and automotive field shows that material used for the components should possess good tribological properties and better toughness. An attempt is made to develop the Al6061 based hybrid composite which is having combination of both tribological properties and toughness like wear resistance which will meet the automotive application requirements. Aluminium alloys possess a number of physical and mechanical properties which make them attractive for automotive applications, but they exhibit galling and extremely poor resistance to seizure [2]. N. Natarajan et al. [3] has recommended an aspirant material for automotive applications which is a SiC particulate reinforcement. It is reported that in aluminium matrix composite, addition of graphite reduces wear due to its solid lubrication property [4]. Yoshiro Iwai et al. [5] reported that wear rate decreases with increasing volume fraction. S.Basavarajappa et al [6] studied in detail load, sliding distance, sliding speed and percentage of reinforcement which manipulates the dry sliding performance of Al-2219 matrix alloy reinforced with SiC.N.Radhika et al. [7] determined that taguchi technique as a valuable technique F. A. Mohamed Zakaulla is a Research scholar in Mechanical Department, Ghousia College of Engineering, Visvesvaraya technological university, Karnataka, India, (e-mail: mohd_zakaulla@yahoo.co.in). S. B. Anwar khan is a professor in Mechanical Department, Ghousia College of Engineering, Visvesvaraya technological university, Karnataka, India, (e-mail Drark_gce@rediffmail.com). to deal with responses influenced by multivariables. In present investigation, an assessment is made to investigate the outcome of load, sliding speed and sliding distance on the dry sliding wear behaviour of Al6061 alloy reinforced with 10 wt% SiC particles and 1wt% Graphite powder. II.MATERIAL SELECTION Alloy Al6061 was selected as a matrix material. . The reinforcement was SiC (average size of 80-100microns) and a fine graphite powder. III.COMPOSITE PREPARATION The hybrid composite specimens were synthesized using the Liquid metallurgy route. The Al6061 alloy was super- heated above its molten state and vortex was created in the melt due to continuous stirring of a mechanical stirrer. At this stage both preheated SiC particles (10 wt %) and Graphite powder (1wt %) was introduced in to the molten metal and the temperature of a composite slurry was increased until it was in a fully liquid state. The composite slurry was stirred for 5 minutes and the hybrid composite melt was degassed using hexachloroethane tablets. Finally the hybrid composite melt was poured in a cast iron permanent mould to obtain cylindrical samples. IV. WEAR BEHAVIOUR To determine the sliding wear behavior of Al6061-10%SiC- 1%Gr composite, a pin on disk type machine was used at different parameters like applying load, sliding speed and sliding distance. The test sample dimensions were 9 mm diameter and 30 mm height and specimen was held against a rotating hardened disk of die steel with Rc60 hardness. For all the tests, a fixed wear track diameter of 80 mm was used. A LVDT was used to measure the height loss of the specimen. MINITAB 14 was used for analyzing the measured results and also finds the important factors and combination of factors influencing the wear process. V.PLAN OF EXPERIMENTS The experiments were conducted as per L 27 orthogonal array and it has 27 rows and 13 columns. The first column was assigned to applied load, second column was assigned to sliding speed and fifth column was assigned to sliding distance and interactions were assigned to their remaining columns. The objective of the model is to minimize wear rate and Study of Tribological Behaviour of Al6061/Silicon Carbide/Graphite Hybrid Metal Matrix Composite Using Taguchi's Techniques Mohamed Zakaulla, A. R. Anwar Khan T World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Vol:9, No:6, 2015 697 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 9(6) 2015 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/10001549 International Science Index, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Vol:9, No:6, 2015 waset.org/Publication/10001549