Utilization of Silicon Enriched Natural Halloysite Nano Tube: Mechanical, Tribological, and Corrosion Behaviour in Magnesium Matrix Composites

Natural tubular clay nanoparticles called halloysite nano tube (HNTs) are constructed of aluminosilicate kaolin sheets that have been repeatedly rolled. Chemically, the outer surface of the halloysite nano clay had properties of SiO 2 while the inner cylinder core shows properties related to Al 2 O 3 . Halloysite has a 1:1 Al: Si ratio and stoichiometry Al 2 Si 2 O 5 (OH) 4 ·2H 2 O. So, an effort is made in this study to fabricate AZ31/HNT surface composites through Friction stir processing (FSP). A slot was produced on AZ31 magnesium plates of 8 mm thickness as an initial step in FSP and packed with particles of silica-rich HNT. The breadth of the grooves differed so as to contain three different volume fractions of HNT (2, 4, and 6 vol.%) and FSP was executed in a single pass. An optical microscope is used to examine the microstructure of the fabricated MMCs which confirms the formation of fine grains. The manifestation of the SEM outcomes confirms that particles of HNT were disbursed evenly in the AZ31 matrix with no cluster formations. Hardness and wear resistance of the developed composite surface increased with respect to HNT addition in which 38 and 48% improvement was observed respectively. The tensile strength of the developed composites was found less than the base matrix however it increases with HNT content. A great improvement in corrosion resistance of the AZ31 alloy is also observed with HNT addition. Optical and scanning electron microscope images show the silica-enriched natural halloysite nanotube in magnesium which influences the mechanical and wear properties significantly.