Exploring the Tribo-corrosion Characteristics of Clay- and MgO-Reinforced Composites: A Comparative Study

This experimental study explores the tribo-corrosion characteristics of clay- and MgO-reinforced aluminum metal matrix composite. The research focuses on achieving uniform dispersion of reinforcement particles throughout the matrix to enhance mechanical properties. Stir casting technique was used to develop the composite. The addition of 5% MgO and 5% clay to the composite resulted in a significant improvement in tensile strength by approximately 19.82% and hardness by around 20%, attributed to their combined effects in resisting plastic deformation and enhancing resistance to indentation. Thus, clay can be used as secondary reinforcement in developing the composite. The maximum tensile strength and hardness without reinforcing clay and after reinforcing clay was found to be 222.44 MPa, 73 HV and 221.67 MPa, 72 HV. After reinforcing clay, similar types of tensile strength and hardness was achieved. Furthermore, fatigue strength saw a notable enhancement of approximately 23.14% at 1 × 10⁷ cycles. The composite exhibited a low wear rate of 0.0017 mm³/m, indicating favorable resistance to wear for sliding contact applications. Additionally, the corrosion behavior of the composite was examined in the presence of 3.5 wt% NaCl over 120 h, revealing a corrosion rate of 0.587 mm/year, indicative of satisfactory corrosion resistance. These findings contribute valuable insights into the performance and suitability of clay- and MgO-reinforced composites for several engineering applications.