Investigation of Tribological Applications and Mechanical Properties of Zinc-Aluminium (ZA40)/Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT) Composite Alloys

Abstract

In this study, ZA40/ MWCNT composites were produced by using powder metallurgy technique and hot press method by adding 0,5-1-1,5-2% wt. MWCNT to ZA40 alloy. Powders made with mechanical alloys were sintered by hot pressing for 3 hours under 500 °C and 800 MPa pressure. Wear tests were carried out under 5N and 10N loads in a dry friction environment using the ball-on-disk technique. Weight losses, average friction force, and wear rate of the samples were calculated after wear tests. Morphology, internal structure images, and examination of worn surfaces of the samples were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The wear test results show the coefficient of friction of ZA40-2wt. % MWCNT was 0,18 μ (lower than the coefficient of friction of 0,66 μ for ZA40 alloy). The wear rate of ZA40 alloy was almost 6 times higher than ZA40-2 wt. % MWCNT composite.

Keywords

• Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube
• Powder Metallurgy
• Wear
• ZA40