Investigating the wear performance of AZ91D magnesium composites with ZnO, MnO, and TiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a notable advancement in the field of bioactive, biodegradable, and biocompatible metallic materials, particularly for applications in general surgery. Among these materials, magnesium alloy-based composites have gained popularity due to their excellent biological properties and adequate strength. However, their resistance to wear is still an area that requires further investigation. Therefore, this study examines the wear properties of stir-ultrasonic-squeeze-casted magnesium (AZ91D) composites, incorporating distinct nanoparticles such as ZnO, MnO, and TiO2. The Evaluation-based Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) approach is used to determine the optimal parameters. Additionally, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is conducted to identify the crucial factors influencing the responses. The effect of process factors on the wear rate and Coefficient of Friction (COF) is then investigated using response surface plots. The confirmation assessments reveal that the optimal parameter conditions for the tribo process comprise a 50.0018 N applied load, a 1.4998 m/s sliding velocity, and the AZ91D + 1% TiO2 (ATO) composite utilization. The ANOVA findings demonstrate that the applied load significantly contributes to 67.3% of the wear performance. Subsequently, after determining the optimal condition, it is observed that the ATO composite, when exposed to temperatures above 150 °C, exhibits an abrupt increase in wear rate and COF due to the degradation of grain strength and the dissolution of the β-phase within the composite.