A Novel Comparative Study Based on the Economic Feasibility of the Ceramic Nanoparticles Role’s in Improving the Properties of the AA5250 Nanocomposites

• Main Authors: Waheed Sami Abushanab, Essam B. Moustafa, Ammar A. Melaibari, Anton D. Kotov, Ahmed O. Mosleh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Coatings
• Subjects: metal matrix composites (MMCs); wear; ceramics; nanoconfinement; grain refinement; friction
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/11/8/977

In this paper, AA5250 aluminum sheets are reinforced with boron nitride (BN), silicon carbide (SiC), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), and vanadium carbide (VC). The nanocomposites metal matrix are manufactured using friction stir processing (FSP). A novel analytical comparison based on an assessment of mechanical, physical properties and the cost of manufactured materials was conducted to help the engineers and designers choose the most economically feasible nanocomposite. The results revealed extra grain refining for all composites in the stirred zone (SZ) due to the Zener-pinning mechanism. The smallest grain size was obtained in AA5250/BN, and it decreased 20 times that of the base metal (BM). The highest wear resistance was achieved in AA5250/SiC, followed by AA5250/VC and AA5250/BN. The lowest coefficient of friction was obtained for AA5250/BN due to the self-lubrication property of BN; which was μ = 0.28. SiC AA5250 had the highest hardness, increasing three times more than the base metal in terms of its hardness. There was a detailed discussion of the probable explanations for the improvements. However, the outstanding characteristics of the BN nanoparticles, the AA5250/BN was reported to be lower than the AA5250/SiC. In comparison, the AA5250/SiC nanocomposite exhibits the optimum value due to its fitting for different properties relative to the cost.