Lightweight Magnesium Nanocomposites with Enhanced Wear Resistance for Landing Gear Application

This study systematically evaluated the wear behaviour of an AZ61 magnesium alloy reinforced with 15 wt.% SiC and different amounts of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) under dry sliding circumstances, adopting a pin-on-disc apparatus (ASTM G99). To identify the influence of factors like sliding speed (SS) (1-3 m/s), axial load (AL) (10-30 N), and MWCNT concentration (0-3 wt.%) on tribological performance, experiments were developed using a Central Composite Design (CCD) under Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Findings showed that wear loss (WL) was greatly amplified by increasing AL owing to localized heating and contact stresses, and that a compacted tribolayer was formed by increasing SS, which decreased WL but marginally raised the coefficient of friction (CoF). At moderate AL (15-20 N), SS (2 m/s), and 2 wt.% MWCNT, the wear resistance was significantly improved by improving load transfer and creating a lubricating carbon-rich coating, resulting in a decreased WL of around 0.002–0.006 g.The COF persisted within the range of 0.25 to 0.40, with the lowest values seen at greater MWCNT levels as a result of solid lubrication. Agglomeration of MWCNTs caused increased WL and CoF when the MWCNT content is increased above 2 wt.%. The robust prediction accuracy (R²>0.95) shown by ANOVA validates the statistical relevance of MWCNT concentration and load as the primary indicators. This study confirms that AZ61-SiC-MWCNT nanocomposites are very effective in reducing weight while maintaining high tribological stability, making them ideal for use in aerospace and automotive materials