Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Metals and Materials International, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study presents the fabrication and comprehensive characterization of WE43 magnesium alloy-based hybrid surface composites reinforced with titanium diboride (TiB2) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) through friction stir processing (FSP). Microstructural examinations revealed pronounced grain refinement and homogeneous dispersion of reinforcements within the stir zone. Among the fabricated systems, the composite containing 8 wt% TiB2 and 2 wt% GNP exhibited the most superior performance, achieving a ~ 65% increase in microhardness and a ~ 22% improvement in strain energy absorption compared with the base alloy. Tribological evaluation demonstrated a substantial reduction in wear volume (from ~ 1300 to ~ 750 mm3) and a decrease in the coefficient of friction (from 0.45 to 0.26). SEM/EDS analyses further indicated a transition from severe delamination- and abrasion-dominated wear in the base alloy to predominantly mild oxidative wear in the hybrid composites. These findings confirm the synergistic strengthening and lubricating contributions of ceramic and carbonaceous nanofillers, establishing hybrid reinforcement via FSP as an effective strategy to simultaneously enhance the mechanical robustness and tribological stability of rare-earth Mg alloys. The developed WE43-based hybrid composites are thus promising candidates for aerospace, automotive, and biomedical applications where lightweight yet wear-resistant materials are essential.