MECHANICAL AND WEAR BEHAVIOR OF AI7075-MOS2 MMC’s FABRICATED VIA STIR CASTING

Abstract

Aluminum 7075 (Al7075) is renowned for its high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and good mechanical properties and thus is a promising material for aerospace, automotive, and structural applications. Nevertheless, to enhance its mechanical and tribological properties even more, the addition of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) as a solid lubricant reinforcement in metal matrix composites (MMCs) has been explored. In this paper, the hardness, tensile strength, and wear behavior of Al7075-MoS₂ MMCs produced by stir casting with MoS₂ content of 2 wt%, 4 wt%, and 6 wt% are investigated. The Vickers hardness was tested based on ASTM E92, tensile strength was tested based on ASTM E8, and wear behavior was tested under various loads and sliding speeds with ASTM G99. The experimental results show that the addition of MoS₂ significantly enhances the wear resistance of Al7075 with a trade-off between hardness and tensile strength.