Investigation of the effect of lubricant properties of carbon nanomaterial in Cu/MWCNT composites on wear

Abstract

This experimental study investigated the abrasive wear behaviour of pure copper-based and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) doped composites synthesized by the powder metallurgy technique. Composite structures were formed by reinforcing MWCNT at different ratios between 1% and 8% in 99.9% pure copper by powder metallurgy. The microstructures of the nanocomposite samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Then, density and hardness measurements and abrasive wear tests were performed to determine their mechanical properties. The collected data were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy images. It has been determined that copper’s nano-sized carbon reinforcement material has a dry lubricant effect up to a specific ratio, reducing wear losses. On the contrary, wear losses increase as the MWCNT reinforcement ratio increases between 4% and 8%. The best results in lowering wear losses were obtained from the sample with 1% MWCNT reinforcement. Depending on the increase in the amount of nanomaterial reinforcement in the composite structure, it was observed that pore formation enlarges with reinforcement agglomeration. It was concluded that the dense porosity in the composite structure neglects the lubricating properties of the MWCNT reinforcement material and increases the wear losses by having a negative effect.