A Synergetic Effect of Silver and Carbon Nanotubes on the Tribological Behavior of TiAl-Based Composites

Abstract

This work explores the addition of silver and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for acquiring a better tribological property at the lowest cost. The friction and wear behavior of TiAl-Ag-MWCNTs at 0-160 min is estimated on a HT-1000 ball-on-disk tribometer. The friction coefficients and wear rates of TAMs-E at 0-160 min are smaller than those of TAMs-D and TAMs-F. At 0-20 min, the MWCNTs are pulled out from a TAMs-E to be exposed on the wear scar, and then, they are well combined with silver. For accumulation of silver, it is helpful to form a lubrication film to achieve a decrease of 4.51-1.63 × 10−4 mm3 N−1 m−1 in wear rate and a reduction of 0.37-0.24 in friction coefficient. The lubrication film at 20-160 min can accomplish low friction and low wear. Close to 0.5 wt.%MWCNTs and 7.5 wt.%Ag are used in this study for small values of 0.19-0.26 in friction coefficient and 2.36-4.43 × 10−4 mm3 N−1 m−1 in wear rate. It jointly satisfies the lowest cost for the fabrication of TiAl-based composites.