Metallurgical, mechanical, and tribological characteristics and process-structure-property relationships in the additive manufacturing of AA2024/ZrO2 nanocomposites via friction surfacing

Key Points

• Mechanical properties demonstrate significant enhancements when ZrO2 is incorporated into AA2024 nanocomposites, leading to improved performance.
• Tribological characteristics reveal lower friction coefficients and wear rates in the AA2024/ZrO2 nanocomposite samples over traditional materials.
• Friction surfacing offers a novel process for fabricating metallic nanocomposites, showcasing its versatility in manufacturing applications.
• Understanding the process-structure-property relationships may enable tailored material designs for specific industrial applications.