This research paper discusses the friction and wear behaviour of Al-12Si alloy reinforced with B₄C prepared through Powder Metallurgy (P/M) method by varying the weight percentage of reinforcement (x = 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) content. The samples were prepared by using die and punch assembly and the lubricant used to eject the sample from the die was molybdenum disulfide. The compaction was done by using a compression testing machine by applying a pressure of 800 MPa. The dry sliding friction and wear behaviour of the sample was conducted on a Pin-on-Disc machine and the experimental values of friction and wear were calibrated. The Taguchi design experiment was done by applying an L25 orthogonal array for 3 factors at 5 levels for the response parameter Coefficient of Friction (CoF) and wear loss. The SEM images show the shape, size and EDX confirm the existence of Al, Si, B₄C particles in the composites. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for CoF of S/N ratio, shows that the reinforcement having 34.92% influence towards the S/N ratio of CoF, ANOVA for wear loss of S/N ratio shows that the sliding distance having 46.76% influence towards the S/N ratio of wear loss, when compared to that of the other two input parameters. The interaction line plot and the 2Dsurface plot for CoF and wear loss show that the increase in B₄C content decreases the wear loss and CoF. The worn surface shows that the B₄C addition will increase the wear resistance.

Thermodynamic description of the Fe-B-C system in its iron-rich corner is developed in the context of a new Fe-B-X (X = Cr, Ni, Mn, Si, Ti, V, C) database. The thermodynamic parameters of the binary sub-systems, Fe-B, Fe-C and B-C, are taken from earlier assessments modifying the B-C description. The parameters of the Fe-B-C system are optimized in this study using experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data from the literature. Liquid, beta-rhombo-B and graphite phases are described using the substitutional solution model, while the ferrite (bcc), the austenite (fcc), the cementite (M3C) and the M23C6 phases are described with the sublattice model and the borides, Fe2B, FeB and B4C, are treated as stoichiometric phases. A good correlation was obtained between the calculated and the experimental thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data. The description is recommended to be used at the composition region of wt% C + wt% B < 15 and at temperatures below 2700oC.