Effect of MWCNTs addition on the wear and compressive deformation behavior of LM13-SiC-MWCNTs hybrid composites

Aluminium-SiC-MWCNTs nano-hybrid composites (HCs) were prepared through stir casting technique. The wear rate, coefficient of friction and compressive strength of HCs increase with increasing MWCNTs (multiwalled carbon nanotubes) concentration in aluminum SiC comopsites. But when only MWCNTs are used as reinforcement its strength, wear rate and microhardness values are found to be significantly less than other studied composite materials. Therefore, SiC is used as a secondary reinforcement to enhance the interfacial interaction between MWCNTs and Aluminium. This interaction improved strengthening of matrix due to uniform dispersion of MWCNTs and high mechanical strength of SiC and MWCNTs. When MWCNTs are used separately as reinforcement, it got agglomerated and thus the strength and wear resistance of composite decreased.