The study of the preparation and tribological behavior of TiAl matrix composites containing 1 wt% multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The objective of searching for an optimized applied load was to minimize friction and decrease energy dissipation in rotating mechanical components. TiAl matrix self-lubricating composites containing 1.0 wt% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (TiAl-1.0 wt% MWCNTs), were evaluated over 80 min on a ball-on-disk tribometer at 1.65, 4.15, 6.65, 9.15 and 11.65 N, for their sliding friction and wear behaviors. The testing results showed that TiAl-1.0 wt% MWCNTs obtained excellent sliding friction and wear behaviors at 9.15 N with small friction coefficients and low wear rates, compared to those at 1.65, 4.15, 6.65 and 11.65 N. It was found that the small mean wear rates of TiAl-1.0 wt% MWCNTs were attributed to the high subsurface hardness of the wear scar. The low standard deviation (STDEV) of the wear rates was mainly determined by the homogeneous thickness of the compacted layer at 9.15 N.