Effect of Tribological Properties on Boron Carbide and CNT Reinforced Copper based Composites

Abstract

The study focuses on the influence and contribution of multi-walled Carbon-Nano tube (MWCNT) and boron carbide (B4C) to the tribological properties of copper matrix composites. The Samples are prepared using ultrasonic assisted stir casting for different weight fractions. The tribological properties like wear and corrosion studies been carried out according to ASTM standards. Wear rate increased with the increase in speed and load for every combination of the composite. However, with CNT being the main reinforcement with addition of CNT wear rate has reduced marginally. Addition of Boron Carbide also to some extent decreased the wear rate but CNT plays a major role in reducing the wear rate. Corrosion studies of the composite materials is carried out by Weight loss corrosion techniques, it is clearly evident from the critical analysis of the results that with the addition of reinforcements to the composite material, the corrosion rate in weight loss corrosion technique decreases drastically with the duration of time, this is due to the formation of a passive oxide layer on the composite specimen.