To Study the Tribological Behaviour of Newly Developed Fe Metal Matrix Composite Using Powder Metallurgy Technique

Abstract

The growing challenges of reducing exhaust emissions and improved fuel economy has triggered automotive engineers to design and manufacture engine parts with superior mechanical properties and dimensional accuracies. Valve guides are cylindrical structures supporting inlet valve and exhaust valve stems during operation. Conventionally made of grey cast iron material, valve guide suffers from severe wear losses leading to loss of fuel and increased emissions due to improper valve stem seating. Here, the synthesis of a novel ferrous powder metallurgy composite is presented. This green technology not only offers improved performance of the components but also considerable design flexibility. Wear characteristics have been studied at varying loads of 30N, 40N and 50N and varying sliding speeds of 0.5 m/s, 1 m/s and 2 m/s under dry and lubricated conditions at room temperature, 200and#730;C and 400and#730; C. The samples have undergone nitriding heat treatment at 1150 °C to improve surface hardness to 700 Hv. The wear characteristics were evaluated using weight loss measurements. newline