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Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced AA7075 Composites Prepared by Powder Metallurgy and Hot Extrusion

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Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are synthesized using arc discharge method in an open air. Various amounts of carbon nanotubes-reinforced AA7075 composites are prepared by powder metallurgy route and then hot extrusion at 450 °C. Hot-extruded composites are characterized, and mechanical properties are measured. Dry sliding wear properties of hot-extruded samples were evaluated using a pin-on-disk method for various loads (5-20 N) at room temperature and for various temperatures (100-400 °C) at the applied load 10 N as a function of CNT amount. Grain size of the composites is decreased compared with Al alloy matrix. Transmission electron microscopy of the composites revealed that the CNT are uniformly distributed in the composites. Mechanical properties of the hot-extruded composites are enhanced with an increase in CNT content. The wear performance is improved with an increased CNT amount, but decreases with an increase in the applied load and temperature as well. The wear damage is mild at lower applied loads and temperatures, whereas the damage is severe at 400 °C. The wear mechanism was plowing in the initial stages which is transformed to severe sliding and chipping with increasing load and temperature. The enhanced wear behavior of composites is attributed to self-lubricating nature of carbon nanotubes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Prof. S. Natarajan for his permission to conduct tribology tests in Surface Engineering Lab, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, NIT, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology Tiruchirapalli, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, 620015, India

    M. Jagannatham, M. S. Senthil Saravanan, K. Sivaprasad & S. P. Kumaresh Babu

  2. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600036, India

    M. Jagannatham

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sree Buddha College of Engineering, Pattoor, Alappuzha, Kerala, 690529, India

    M. S. Senthil Saravanan

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  1. M. Jagannatham
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Jagannatham, M., Senthil Saravanan, M.S., Sivaprasad, K. et al. Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes-Reinforced AA7075 Composites Prepared by Powder Metallurgy and Hot Extrusion. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 27, 5675–5688 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-018-3681-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-018-3681-3

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