Fabrication and wear behavior of CNT/Al composites
(1. School of Science, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou 730050, China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China;
3. Department of Materials Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)
2. State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China;
3. Department of Materials Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)
Abstract: Aluminum matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotube were fabricated by a powder metallurgy method. The effects of carbon nanotube content on the relative density, the hardness, and the friction and wear behavior of the composites under dry sliding condition were investigated using the ball (pin)-on-block tester. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the worn surfaces and worn chips were observed, and the wear mechanism of composites was analyzed and discussed. The results indicate that the addition to the aluminum matrix of 2.0%(mass fraction) carbon nanotube causes the increase in the Vickers hardness of about 80%. Within the range of carbon nanotubes content from 1.0% to 2.0%, both the friction coefficient and wear rate of composites decrease with the increase of carbon nanotube content. The delamination wear is the main wear mechanism for the composites.
Key words: carbon nanotubes; Al matrix composite; wear behavior