Tribological and corrosion characteristics of aluminum matrix composites containing hybrid carbon and ceramic nanoparticles

This study developed aluminum (Al) nanocomposites using binary reinforcements as CNTs and titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles. On the development of the nanocomposites, the nanoparticles and Al powder were first mixed using a tubular mixer, then compacted, melted in a crucible furnace, and cast. The Al nanocomposites showed optimal reductions in corrosion rate of about 47% in acid and 55% in salt compared to that of the pure Al. While the wear rate decreased from 4.54 × 10 −4 mm³/Nm and 1.12 × 10 −3 mm³/Nm for the pure Al to 1.8 × 10 −7 mm³/Nm and 3.47 × 10 −6 mm³/Nm for the Al nanocomposite at applied loads of 10 N and 20 N, respectively. The enhanced characteristics of the developed Al nanocomposites were ascribed to the CNTs and TiN, which acted as good self-lubricants and hardening phases for minimizing frictional wear, while they also acted as good anti-corrosion for improving the electrochemical properties.