Synthesis, mechanical properties and wear behavior of hybrid Al/(TiO2 + CuO) nanocomposites

One of the relatively new but affordable reinforcements that can be used to effectively enhance the mechanical properties and wear behavior of particularly light metals is oxide nanoparticles. In this study, hybrid TiO2 - CuO nanoparticles as the reinforcing materials were mixed with aluminum (Al) powder using a planetary ball mill, then consolidated by uniaxial pressing at 450 MPa, and finally sintered at 400 °C for 90 min in order to produce hybrid aluminum matrix nanocomposites (HAMNCs). Between a total of 7 and 5 wt%, the optimum amount of nanoparticles was found to be 5 wt% (2.5 wt% each). The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) examinations revealed that the ceramic nanoparticles were distributed uniformly in the Al matrix. The microhardness and compression tests indicated that the addition of TiO2 and CuO nanoparticles to Al matrix resulted into a nanocomposite with superior mechanical properties. Microhardness, yield and compression strengths values were obtained to be 73 HV, 250, and 278 MPa, respectively. Compared to the Al matrix, the percent increases are 83, 187 and 167, respectively for microhardness, yield and compression strengths. Wear tests revealed a lower coefficient of friction (0.27) for the HAMNCs than for the milled and compacted pure Al sample (0.575). The wear resistance increased as indicated by the reduction in the wear volume to approximately half as compared to the pure aluminum. SEM observations of the worn surfaces revealed that the controlling wear mechanisms were a mixture of abrasive and adhesive, and some delamination. [Display omitted] •Optimum milling time was 20 h leads to formation nano crystallite to about 10 nm.•Establishing hybrid nano composite proved by SEM-MAP.•Uniform distribution of nano particles was formed after 5 h of milling.•The hardness, compression strength and wear properties were roughly doubled in comparison to the Al base.•The TiO2 nano particle is more effective than CuO in case of wear resistance.