Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of mechanical alloying time and carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the evolution of aluminum (Al)–CNT composite powders

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One of the major obstacles to the effective use of carbon nanotubes as reinforcements in metal matrix composites is their agglomeration and poor distribution/dispersion within the metallic matrix. In the present work, we use mechanical alloying (MA) to mechanically mix CNT (2 and 5 wt.%) with Al powders. These powders would be used as precursors for subsequent consolidation to generate bulk CNT-Al composites. Hence controlling the initial powder characteristics prior to high temperature consolidation is important. Up to 48 h of milling was employed to investigate the effect of milling time on the particle size, morphology and CNT dispersions. The results show that particle size and morphology vary with milling time and CNT content. Also the addition of process control agents such as methanol can aid in controlling the powder characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  1. Rawal S (2001) JOM (April) 14

  2. De Heer WA (2004) MRS Bulletin (April) 281

  3. Demczyk BG, Wang YM, Cumings J, Hetman M, Han W, Zettl A, Ritchie RO (2002) Mater Sci Eng A334:173

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Harris PJF (2001) Carbon nanotubes and related structures: new materials for the twenty-first century. Cambridge University Press

  5. Ruoff RS et al (2003) CR Physique 4:993

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Thostenso ET, Li C, Chou T-W (2005) Compos Sci Technol 65:91

    Google Scholar 

  7. Thostenson ET, Ren Z, Chou T-W (2001) Compos Sci Technol 61:1899

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Laha T, Agarwal A, McKechnie T, Seal S (2004) Mater Sci Eng A381:249

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Carreno-Morelli E et al (2003) Proceedings of EURO PM 2003, 20–22 October 2003, Valence, Spain

  10. Zhong R et al (2003) Fabrication of nano-Al based composites reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes. Letters to the Editor, Carbon 41:CO1-851

    Google Scholar 

  11. Peigney A, Laurent Ch, Flahaut E, Rousset A (2000) Ceram Int 26:677

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Boey FYC, Yuan Z, Khor KA (1998) Mater Sci Eng A A252:276

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Munoz-Morris MA, Garcia Oca C, Morris DG (2002) Acta Mater 50:2825

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Morsi K, Shinde S, Olevsky EA (2006) Mater Sci Eng A A42:6283

    Google Scholar 

  15. Pierard N, Fonseca A, Kenya Z, Willems I, Van Tendeloo G, Nagy JB (2001) Chem Phys Lett 335:1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. George R, Kashyap KT, Rahul R, Yamdagni S (2005) Scripta Mater 53:1159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Esawi A, Morsi K (2007) Dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aluminium powders. Compos Part A 38(2):646

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Suryanarayana C (2001) Prog Mater Sci 46(1–2):1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the following group of undergraduate students at the American University in Cairo for their assistance with the ball milling experiments: Abdel Rahman Reda, Ahmed Abdel Gawad, Ahmed Sayed, Basel Thalathiny, Mahmoud El-Sarag and Moataz Hamouda. Dr. Esawi also wishes to acknowledge the financial support by the Science and Technology Research Center (STRC) at the American University in Cairo. Grateful thanks to Mr. Mostafa El Borady and Mr. Ahmed Nagy from the Science and Technology Research Center for their continuous assistance. Thanks also to Mr. Don DeAndrade at SDSU for conducting the sieve analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA

    K. Morsi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Science and Technology Research Center (STRC), The American University in Cairo (AUC), Cairo, Egypt

    A. Esawi

Authors
  1. K. Morsi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Esawi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to K. Morsi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Morsi, K., Esawi, A. Effect of mechanical alloying time and carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the evolution of aluminum (Al)–CNT composite powders. J Mater Sci 42, 4954–4959 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0699-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0699-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation