Tribological characterization of particulate-reinforced aluminum metal matrix nanocomposites: A review

Abstract

Aluminum (Al)-based composites are on increasing usage in sectors like ground transportation, aerospace, sports, and infrastructure because of the improved properties such as high strength to weight ratio, corrosion, fatigue, and wear resistance. Several applications involving dynamic contact stresses require excellent wear and frictional performance for improved life. Nanocomposites are found to perform exceedingly better than microcomposites and alloys in several lab scale tribological investigations carried out so far in the last decade. In this article, an attempt is made to review those published reports about dry sliding tribological behavior of particulate-reinforced Al nanocomposites. Wear and friction being system properties are found to get influenced by intrinsic factors such as reinforcement, fabrication method, microstructure; extrinsic parameters like load, speed, contact conditions and the system generated in situ tribolayer all being interrelated.