Investigation of mechanical properties of hydrophobic composite material produced by powder metallurgy

In this thesis study, aluminum matrix hybrid composite materials reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron particles were produced using the powder metallurgy (PM) method, and their microstructural, mechanical, tribological, and surface properties were systematically investigated. The aim was to achieve superior engineering properties such as high specific strength, enhanced wear resistance, and thermal stability. Additionally, the synergistic performance of the hybrid structure was examined by leveraging the electrical conductivity contribution of CNTs and the hardness enhancement provided by boron. During the production process, the fundamental PM steps including powder mixing, shaping, sintering, and post-processing were optimized to obtain structures with minimal porosity and a homogeneous phase distribution. This study offers original contributions to the literature as one of the few examples in which advanced reinforcement phases such as CNT' s and boron are used in combination.