The tribological behavior of different carbon nanomaterials-reinforced the titanium (TC21) matrix composite

Abstract

This study examined the effects of different carbon nanomaterials on the mechanical and tribological properties of titanium matrix composites. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene nanoplates (GNPs) and graphene oxide nanoplates (GOs) reinforced Ti–6Al–2Sn–2Zr–3Mo–1Cr–2Nb–Si (TC21) titanium matrix composites were prepared by spark plasma sintering. In the three carbon nanomaterials, CNTs react with the TC21 matrix to form TiC, while GNPs and GOs react with the TC21 matrix to form a TiC coated GNPs/GOs sandwich structure, and the formation of TiC phase promotes the interfacial bonding of the composite. GOs/TC21 composites exhibit better strength and wear resistance than the other two composites. GOs/TC21 composite exhibits excellent mechanical properties, i.e., yield strength of 1043 MPa, the ultimate tensile strength of 1183 MPa and an elongation about of 8%. The wear loss of GOs/TC21 composite decreased by 24.2% compared to that of the TC21 alloy. The superior mechanical and tribological performances of GOs/TC21 composites are attributed to the TC21 matrix strengthening brought by the TiC particles/TiC coated GNPs/GOs sandwich structure and the lubricating properties of the residual GOs, which demonstrates that GOs is an ideal filler for TC21 alloy.