Cu−Zn−Al2O3 nanocomposites: study of microstructure, corrosion, and wear properties

Abstract

Alumina nanoparticles were added to a Cu−Zn alloy to investigate their effect on the microstructural, tribological, and corrosion properties of the prepared alloys. Alloying was performed using a mixture of copper and zinc powders with 0vol% and 5vol% of α-Al nanopowder in a satellite ball mill. The results showed that the Cu−Zn solid solution formed after 18 h of mechanical alloying. The mechanically alloyed powder was compacted followed by sintering of the obtained green compacts at 750°C for 30 min. Alumina nanoparticles were uniformly distributed in the matrix of the Cu−Zn alloy. The tribological properties were evaluated by pin-on-disk wear tests, which revealed that, upon the addition of alumina nanoparticles, the coefficient of friction and the wear rate were reduced to 20% and 40%, respectively. The corrosion properties of the samples exposed to a 3.5wt% NaCl solution were studied using the immersion and potentiodynamic polarization methods, which revealed that the addition of alumina nanoparticles reduced the corrosion current of the nanocomposite by 90%.