Taguchi analysis for sliding wear characteristics of carbon nanotube-flyash reinforced aluminium nanocomposites

Dry sliding wear characteristics of aluminium nano-composites reinforced with different wt. % of multiwall carbon nanotubes (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 wt. %) and fly ash (4, 8, 16 wt. %) produced by powder metallurgy were investigated. ANOVA and Taguchi methods of design of experiment technique were successfully used to determine the predominant factors and optimisation of the testing parameters on wear. MWCNT (wt. %) and FA (wt. %) was found to be the predominant parameter affecting wear loss with percentage contribution of 43.71% and 30.78%. The results of Taguchi indicate the optimized values of wear parameters were 0.25wt. % MWCNT, 8 wt. % FA, 2 h ball milling, 6 h sintering, 10 N applied load, 200 rpm sliding speed and 500 m sliding distance. The microstructure of composites exhibited well dispersion of the reinforcements in the aluminium matrix. The study of worn surfaces revealed minor grooves and delamination wear due to abrasive and adhesive wear mechanisms.