Investigations on Physical, Mechanical and Sliding Wear Assessment of ZA27-Gr Alloy Composites Using Preference Selection Index Method

This present work investigates the physical, mechanical and sliding wear performance of graphite (0-6 wt%)-reinforced ZA-27 alloy composites following ASTM standards. Sliding wear experiments design follows the Taguchi methodology, and the same is adopted for parametric optimization. This follows surface micrograph studies using SEM to understand the associated wear mechanisms responsible for surface damage. Further, the compositions are ranked as per their performance criteria implications using Preference Selection Index (PSI) decision-making technique. It was observed that there are improvements in physical and mechanical properties like void content (2.50-1.33), hardness (107-171 HV), compressive strength (406-496 MPa) flexural strength (300-490 MPa), tensile strength (290-428 MPa) and impact strength (22.76-64 J), as well as sliding wear performance of alloy composites with reinforcement. The AGr-6 alloy composite having 6 wt% graphite particulates were observed to optimize the overall physical, mechanical, and sliding wear performance. The analysis of performance data using the PSI decision-making tool reveals AGr -6 >AGr -4 > AGr -2 > AGr -0 order of material composition that optimizes the required performance. As both decisions are attuned, decision-making tools like PSI could be used in such material selection problems.