MXenes, 2D transition metal carbides/nitrides, with superior electrical, optical, and mechanical properties is a recent discovery and have already been deployed in a variety of fields such as batteries, composites, sensors and medical devices.

MXenes are recently discovered 2D nanomaterial with superior mechanical, thermal, and tribological properties, being commonly employed in a wide variety of critical research areas, ranging from cancer therapy to energy and environmental applications. Due to their special properties, such as mechanoceramic nature with excellent mechanical performance, thermal stability and rich surface properties, MXenes have tremendous potential as advanced composite structures, especially those based on polymers due to a great affinity between macromolecules and the terminating groups of 2D MXenes. MXenes have been extensively explored in metal matrix nanocomposites as well as in solid‐ or liquid‐based lubrication systems owing to the 2D structure and antifriction characteristics. The purpose of the this paper is to provide a comprehensive insight into the material, mechanical, and tribological properties of the MXene nanolayers with discussions on the recent advancements attained from MXene‐reinforced nanocomposites starting with the synthesis, fabrication techniques, intricacies of the underlying physics and mechanisms, and finally focusing on the progress in computational studies. This analysis of MXene‐based composites will stimulate an emerging field with innumerable opportunities and ample potentials to produce newfangled materials and structures with targeted properties.

Lightweight high-strength metal matrix nano-composites (MMNCs) can be used in a wide variety of applications, e.g., aerospace, automotive, and biomedical engineering, owing to their sustainability, increased specific strength/stiffness, enhanced elevated temperature strength, improved wear, or corrosion resistance. A metallic matrix, commonly comprising of light aluminum or magnesium alloys, can be significantly strengthened even by very low weight fractions (~1 wt%) of well-dispersed nanoparticles. This review discusses the recent advancements in the fabrication of metal matrix nanocomposites starting with manufacturing routes and different nanoparticles, intricacies of the underlying physics, and the mechanisms of particle dispersion in a particle-metal composite system. Thereafter, the microstructural influences of the nanoparticles on the composite system are outlined and the theory of the strengthening mechanisms is also explained. Finally, microstructural, mechanical, and tribological properties of the selected MMNCs are discussed as well.

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Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have been developed in response to the enormous demand for special industrial materials and structures for automotive and aerospace applications, wherein both high-strength and light weight are simultaneously required. The most common, inexpensive route to fabricate MMCs or metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) is based on casting, wherein reinforcements like nanoceramics, -carbides, -nitrides, elements or carbon allotropes are added to molten metal matrices; however, most of the mentioned reinforcements, especially those with nanosized reinforcing particles, have usually poor wettability with serious drawbacks like particle agglomerations and therefore diminished mechanical strength is almost always expected. Many research efforts have been made to enhance the affinity between the mating surfaces. The aim in this paper is to critically review and comprehensively discuss those approaches/routes commonly employed to boost wetting conditions at reinforcement-matrix interfaces. Particular attention is paid to aluminum matrix composites owing to the interest in lightweight materials and the need to enhance the mechanical properties like strength, wear, or creep resistance. It is believed that effective treatment(s) may enormously affect the wetting and interfacial strength.