A state-of-the-art review on SiC and MWCNTs reinforced hybrid metal matrix composites: Processing, properties, and applications

Abstract

In recent years, the focus of material scientists has been moving from single to hybrid metal matrix composites (HMMCs) in order to fulfil the ever-increasing industrial demand for low-cost and lightweight materials with comprehensive mechanical performances. Discontinuous HMMCs, often with multi-scaled reinforcements with contrasting properties, are relatively simple to manufacture. They offer exciting property combinations like great specific-strength, acceptable formability and toughness, and outstanding wear resistance, making them potential candidates for a wide range of applications in the aerospace, automotive, and military sectors. Metal matrix reinforced with one hard ceramic and another carbonaceous material are the most researched hybrid composites; among these, silicon carbide (SiC) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) reinforced ones are the most promising. Therefore, the current article presented a comprehensive review of the processing, microstructures, properties, and applications of SiC plus MWCNTs reinforced light metal matrix hybrid composites, emphasizing the recent advancements, current challenges, and future directions. Various fabrication methods were compared in terms of microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties, while the role of different processing parameters was identified. The emerging steps to overcome the challenges of dispersion of reinforcements, damage of MWCNTs, and interfacial reaction during processing were explicitly addressed. New understandings of the thermal, electrical, tensile, tribological, and corrosion properties of the selected composite system were systematically highlighted.