The multifunctional performance of the laser powder bed fusion 316L stainless steel matrix composite reinforced with the CNT-ZrO2 nanohybrid

The effects of CNT-ZrO2 nanohybrid reinforcement on the microstructure features, mechanical properties, wear behavior, and corrosion resistance of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) stainless steel 316L (SS 316L) were analyzed. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman analysis, tensile, pin-on-disk, and potentiodynamic polarization tests were conducted to determine the function of the CNT-ZrO2 nanohybrid reinforcement in enhancing the properties of the fabricated LPBF SS 316L matrix composite. The hardness, tensile properties, wear behavior, and corrosion resistance of the LPBF composites with various wt.% of the CNT-ZrO2 nanohybrid were compared with those of the unreinforced SS 316L and the SS 316L matrix composite containing detached CNTs and ZrO2 nanoparticles. The outcomes demonstrated a synergistic influence between the CNT and ZrO2 in an integrated nanosystem in improvement in the hardness, strength, wear behavior, and corrosion resistance of prepared composites.