AN INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL AND TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF AL6061 ALLOY REINFORCED WITH MWCNTS BY POWDER METALLURGY TECHNIQUE

Powder metallurgy technique is considered one of the most important routes for fabricating of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs). In the present study, Al6061 matrix alloy reinforced with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a reinforcement material with different weight fractions of 0, 0. 5, 1, and 1.5 wt.% were fabricated. Al 6061 matrix alloy and its composites were compacted at 500, 600, and 700 MPa. A hot compaction powder metallurgy technique was adopted to consolidate the nanocomposites at compaction temperature of 460 ºC. Nanocomposites characterization i.e. relative density, microstructure, microhardness number, wear rate, and coefficient of friction (COF) was investigated. Moreover, pin-on-disc sliding wear and COF behavior of the present nanocomposites was investigated under a constant applied normal load, sliding speed, and sliding distance of 30 N, 75 m/min, and 376.8 m, respectively. After wear test, microstructure of the worn surfaces was investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Finally, the experimental results showed that MWCNTs play an effective role in improvement of the mechanical and tribological performance of the produced nanocomposite.