Investigation of Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) /Aluminum Matrix Nanocmposite

In this research, WS2 nanoparticles were synthesized using hydrothermal method and then added to aluminum matrix as reinforcement. Nanocomposites were fabricated by powder metallurgy processing followed by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) consolidation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and XRD of synthesized powder showed WS2 nanoparticles were synthesized successfully. Microstructural properties of nanocomposites were investigated using optical microscopy (OM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Nanoparticles were well distributed in the aluminum matrix and have a good dispersion. The presence of nanoparticles in the matrix reduces the size of the grain less than 20 µm so that the size of the grain becomes smaller by increasing the amount of nanoparticles .The density of the sample showed that the nanocomposite had a very good compressibility and relative density reach to near 99% in 4wt. %WS2. Hardness and compressive strength of nanocomposites were evaluated. Mechanical evaluations indicated that, the increase in weight fraction of WS2 nanoparticles, resulted in improvement of hardness and compressive strength of aluminum. Concentration of tungsten disulfide nanoparticles has a direct effect on increasing the mechanical properties of nanocomposite. The compressive strength increased up to 120 MPa, about twice the base metal, and the hardness raised up to 30%.