Fabrication of Al5083 surface hybrid nanocomposite reinforced by CNTs and Al2O3 nanoparticles using friction stir processing

In the present study, friction stir processing was adopted for surface treatment of Al5083 by incorporation of CNT and Al2O3 nanoparticles. Microstructural, mechanical and tribological properties of the surface of Al5083/CNT, Al5083/Al2O3 and hybrid Al5083/CNT/Al2O3 nanocomposite were investigated and compared. The friction stir processing yielded a nearly uniform dispersion of CNTs and Al2O3 nanoparticles, irrespective of nanoparticle reinforcements and their weight fraction. Microstructural observations revealed that Al2O3 nanoparticles have dispersed in different zones including intra-grain and grain boundary zones while, CNTs are pinned into grain boundaries during friction stir processing. From mechanical point of view, hybridization of CNT/Al2O3 enhances the hardness (126 HV at stirred zone), strength (UTS of similar to 487 MPa) and also wear resistance of Al5083/CNT/Al2O3 nanocomposites. The enhancement is attributed to the presence and combination of features of both CNT and Al2O3 nanoparticles which are different in nature; one spherical oxide and one nanotube.