Investigation of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composite materials

Hansang Kwon (1) , Dae Hoon Park (1) , Jean-François Silvain (1) , Akira Kawasaki (2)

1 ICMCB - Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux
2 Department of Materials Processing Engineering

We have increased the tensile strength without compromising the elongation of aluminum (Al)–carbon nanotube (CNT) composite by a combination of spark plasma sintering followed by hot-extrusion processes. From the microstructural viewpoint, the average thickness of the boundary layer with relatively low CNT incorporation has been observed by optical, field-emission scanning electron, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopies. Significantly, the Al–CNT composite showed no decrease in elongation despite highly enhanced tensile strength compared to that of pure Al. We believe that the presence of CNTs in the boundary layer affects the mechanical properties, which leads to well-aligned CNTs in the extrusion direction as well as effective stress transfer between the Al matrix and the CNTs due to the generation of aluminum carbide.

Mots clés: Carbon nanotubes; Metal–matrix composites (MMCs); Mechanical properties; Powder processing

Domaines: Matériaux

Hansang Kwon, Dae Hoon Park, Jean-François Silvain, Akira Kawasaki. Investigation of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composite materials. Composites Science and Technology, 2010, 70 (3), pp.546-550. ⟨10.1016/j.compscitech.2009.11.025⟩. ⟨hal-00466359⟩