Production of Al/MWCNT Nanocomposite by Powder Metallurgy to Enhance Dry Sliding Wear Performance Aided by Design of Experiment

Aluminum (Al) reinforced with 0, 0.5, and 1.0 wt% MWCNT metal matrix nano-composites were fabricated via powder metallurgy (PM) route. Chemical stability between the matrix (Al) and reinforcement (MWCNT) was analyzed using X-ray diffractometry. Wear experimentations were investigated using cylindrical test pieces on a rotating disk wear apparatus. Compositions, applied loads, disk rotation speeds, and traversing distances were optimized using Taguchi’s L9 orthogonal array. The 0.5 wt% MWCNT reinforced composite showed higher resistance to wear. The consequences of variables on rate of wear are presented. SEM micrographs of the investigated cracked surface were observed to judge the mechanism of fracture and MWCNTs effects.