Mechanical performance of friction stir welded acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and polystyrene plates with and without multiwall carbon nanotubes: a comparative study

Abstract Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polystyrene (PS) are utilized in high-performance automotive parts, robust consumer electronics, and advanced packaging solutions for improved durability and strength. Joining ABS and PS using Friction Stir Welding (FSW) significantly enhances the joint strength, material integrity, and performance, making it ideal for advanced engineering applications. Present paper investigates the effects of incorporating and deprived of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) during joining of the ABS and PS material. A cylindrical threaded tool is used to join the material at varying tool rotation speed (TRS) from 700 rpm to 1100 rpm with interval of 100 rpm and traverse speed (TS) from 0.1 mm s −1 to 0.5 mm s −1 with interval of 0.1 mm s −1 . The Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of welded samples is also performed. The results showed that optimal joints were formed at a TS of 0.1 mm s −1 and a TRS of 900 rpm with MWCNTs. Without MWCNTs, the maximum tensile strength and efficiency were achieved at a TS of 0.5 mm s −1 and TRS of 800 rpm. Tensile tests demonstrated a 39.16% increase in joint strength with the incorporation of MWCNTs in welded dissimilar thermoplastic materials, highlighting their potential to significantly enhance tensile strength.