Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reinforced Mg alloy AZ31 nanocomposites were fabricated by mechanical alloying and powder metallurgy technique. The reinforcement material MWCNTs were blended in three weight fractions (0.33%, 0.66%, and 1%) with the matrix material AZ31 (Al-3%, zinc-1% rest Mg) and blended through mechanical alloying using a high energy planetary ball mill. Specimens of monolithic AZ31 and AZ31-MWCNT composites were fabricated through powder metallurgy technique. The microstructure, density, hardness, porosity, ductility, and tensile properties of monolithic AZ31 and AZ31-MWCNT nano composites were characterized and compared. The characterization reveals significant reduction in CNT (carbon nanoTube) agglomeration and enhancement in microstructure and mechanical properties due to mechanical alloying through ball milling.

The wear properties of Mg alloy AZ31 (Al 3%, Zn 1%, rest Mg) nanocomposites reinforced with multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were studied by conducting experiments on pin-on-disc wear test apparatus. The composites were fabricated by powder metallurgy technique by homogeneously reinforcing variable percentages of MWCNTs (0.33 wt%, 0.66 wt%, and 1.0 wt%) into Mg alloy AZ31 matrix through mechanical alloying. The effect of varying percentages of MWCNTs on the wear properties of AZ31-MWCNT nanocomposites and the mechanism behind that were investigated through scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscope analysis. The microstructure investigation revealed that an increase in reinforcement of MWCNTs in AZ31 alloy increased the hardness and reduced the wear rate of the composites with 0.33 wt% and 0.66 wt% due to homogeneous distribution and high interfacial strength between AZ31 and MWCNTs. However, with the addition of 1.0 wt% MWCNTs to AZ31 alloy led to high agglomeration of MWCNTs, resulting in poor interfacial strength and weak bonding between AZ31 and conglomerated MWCNTs, subsequently increasing the wear rate.

Aluminum is most preferable structural material in the field of automotive and aerospace due to its properties such as strength, corrosion resistance and being light weight. So, to enhance mechanical properties of aluminum, attempts has been made to reinforce it with ceramic materials like Multi walled Carbon Nanotube (MWCNT), Silicon carbide (SiC), separately. This paper focuses on fabrication of Aluminum (Al) with dual reinforcement MWCNT-nanoSiC by powder metallurgy method and study of mechanical properties of composite as well as its microstructure.

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