Tribological Performance of Ni‐Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced with MXene

ABSTRACT Ti 3 C 2 T x ‐MXene, a novel 2D material, has shown significant promise as a solid lubricant due to its layered structure and surface functionalities. In this study, nickel metal matrix composites (Ni‐MMCs) reinforced with varying contents of Ti 3 C 2 T x ‐MXene (0–2 wt.%) were successfully fabricated via powder metallurgy. The synthesized composites were characterized for their phase composition using X‐ray diffraction, surface morphology, and their density and micro‐hardness were measured using Archimedes’ principle and Vickers hardness testing, respectively. Tribological behavior was evaluated using a ball‐on‐disk tribometer against a silicon nitride ball under dry sliding conditions. The results indicated that the composite with 2 wt.% MXene (NM2.0) exhibited the highest hardness and lowest density compared to pure nickel and other fabricated composites. Furthermore, NM2.0 showed the lowest friction coefficient (∼26.6% reduction) and minimum specific wear rate. SEM‐EDS analysis of worn surfaces revealed the formation of a protective tribo‐layer on the composite and a transfer film on the counter‐face, which contributed to enhanced wear resistance and lubrication. These findings demonstrate that low concentrations of MXene significantly improve the mechanical and tribological performance of Ni‐based composites, highlighting their potential in solid lubrication applications.