Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of CNT-Reinforced AZ31 Matrix Composites Prepared Using Hot-Press Sintering

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

AZ31 matrix composites reinforced by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were fabricated using hot-press sintering. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites (denoted as Mg-3wt.%Al-1wt.%Zn-xwt.%CNTs, x = 0-1.5) were investigated. The results showed that the elastic modulus, yield strength, tensile strength and elongation of the composites were significantly improved when compared with the matrix alloy AZ31. Of the tested composites Mg-3wt.%Al-1wt.%Zn-1.0wt.%CNTs exhibited the most favorable mechanical properties: compared with Mg-3wt.%Al-1wt.%Zn, the elastic modulus improved by 25.85%, yield strength increased by 23.48%, and tensile strength and elongation showed 19.35 and 48.23% improvement, respectively. The fracture surface of the Mg-3wt.%Al-1wt.%Zn-CNTs composites displayed features of brittle fracture, which suggests that CNTs do not markedly enhance the plasticity of AZ31.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

References

  1. C.S. Goh, J. Wei, L.C. Lee, and M. Gupta, Development of Novel Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Magnesium Nanocomposites Using the Powder Metallurgy Technique, Nanotechnology, 2006, 17, p 7–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. X.J. Wang, D.K. Xu, R.Z. Wu, X.B. Chen, Q.M. Peng, L. Jin, Y.C. Xin, Z.Q. Zhang, Y. Liu, X.H. Chen, G. Chen, K.K. Deng, and H.Y. Wang, What is Going on in Magnesium Alloys, J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2017, doi:10.1016/j.jmst.2017.07.019

    Google Scholar 

  3. M. Paramsothy, J. Chan, K.R. Wok, and M. Gupta, Addition of CNTs to Enhance Tensile/Compressive Response of Magnesium Alloy ZK60A, Compos. A, 2011, 8(42), p 180–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Y. Shimizu, S. Miki, T. Soga, I. Itoh, H. Todoroki, and T. Hosono, Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Magnesium Alloy Composites, Scripta Mater., 2008, 58, p 267–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. R.Z. Wu, Y. Yan, G. Wang, L.E. Murr, W. Han, Z. Zhang, and M.L. Zhang, Recent Progress in Magnesium-Lithium Alloys, Int. Mater. Rev., 2015, 60, p 65–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. M. Paramsothy, S.F. Hasan, N. Srikanth, and M. Gupta, Simultaneous Enhancement of Tensile/Compressive Strength and Ductility of Magnesium Alloy AZ31 using Carbon Nanotubes, J Nanosci. Nanotechno., 2010, 10, p 956–964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. S.R. Bakshi, D. Lahiri, and A. Agarwal, Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Metal Matrix Composites—A Review, Int. Mater. Rev., 2010, 55, p 41–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. G.Q. Han, Z.H. Wang, K. Liu, S.B. Li, X. Du, and W.B. Du, Synthesis of CNT-Reinforced AZ31 Magnesium Alloy Composites with Uniformly Distributed CNTs, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2015, 628, p 350–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. K.Y. Zhu, C.H. Jiang, and V. Ji, Surface Layer Characteristics of CNT/Al-Mg-Si Alloy Composites Treated by Stress Peening, Surf. Coat. Technol., 2017, 317, p 10–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. E. Neubauer, M. Kitzmantel, M. Hulman, and P. Angerer, Potential and Challenges of Metal-Matrix-Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanofibers and Carbon Nanotubes, Compos. Sci. Technol., 2010, l70, p 2228–2236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Y. Shimizu, S. Miki, T. Soga et al., Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Reinforced Magnesium Alloy Composites, Scripta Mater., 2008, 58, p 267–270

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. L.G. Hou, R.Z. Wu, X.D. Wang, J.H. Zhang, M.L. Zhang, A.P. Dong, and B.D. Sun, Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Thermal Conductivity of the Short Carbon Fiber Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Composites, J. Alloys Compd., 2017, 695, p 2820–2826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J.H. Liang, H.J. Li, L.H. Qi, W.L. Tian, X.F. Li, J.M. Zhou, D.G. Wang, and J.F. Wei, Influence of Ni-CNTs Additions on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extruded Mg-9Al Alloy, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2016, 678, p 101–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. M.H. Nai, J. Wei, and M. Gupta, Interface Tailoring to Enhance Mechanical Properties of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Magnesium Composites, Mater. Des., 2014, 60, p 490–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. J.H. Liang, H.J. Li, L.H. Qi, W.L. Tian, X.F. Li, and J.M. Zhou, Influence of Ni-CNTs Additions on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extruded Mg-9Al Alloy, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 2016, 678, p 101–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. S. Horikoshi, Y. Akao, T. Ogura et al., On the Stability of Surfactant Free Water-in-Oil Emulsions and Synthesis of Hollow SiO2 Nanospheres, Colloids Surf. A, 2010, 372, p 55–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. R. Kumar, R.K. Singh, and D.P. Singh, Natural and Waste Hydrocarbon Precursors for the Synthesis of Carbon Based Nanomaterials: Graphene and CNTs, Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 2016, 58, p 976–1006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. M. Sanjari, S.A. Farzadfar, I.H. Jung, E. Essadiqi, and S. Yue, Influence of Strain Rate on Hot Deformation Behaviour and Texture Evolution of AZ31B, J. Mater. Sci. Technol., 2012, 28, p 437–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. M. Rashad, F.S. Pan, M. Asif, and L. Li, Enhanced Ductility of Mg-3Al-1Zn Alloy Reinforced with Short Length Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes using a Powder Metallurgy Method, Prog. Nat. Sci., 2015, 25, p 276–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This paper was supported by National Natural Science Foundation (51671063, 51771060), Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (20132304110006), Heilongjiang Province Natural Science Foundation (ZD2017010), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (HEUCFG171003), Harbin City Application Technology Research and Development Project (2015AE4AE005, 2015RQXXJ001, 2016AB2AG013). We thank Sarah Dodds, Ph.D., from Liwen Bianji, Edanz Editing China (www.liwenbianji.cn/ac), for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Superlight Materials and Surface Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, 145 Nantong Str., Harbin, 150001, People’s Republic of China

    Liqun Wu, Ruizhi Wu, Legan Hou, Jinghuai Zhang, Jianfeng Sun & Milin Zhang

  2. College of Materials and Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin, 150022, People’s Republic of China

    Liqun Wu & Jianfeng Sun

Authors
  1. Liqun Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ruizhi Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Legan Hou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jinghuai Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jianfeng Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Milin Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruizhi Wu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wu, L., Wu, R., Hou, L. et al. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of CNT-Reinforced AZ31 Matrix Composites Prepared Using Hot-Press Sintering. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 26, 5495–5500 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-2971-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-017-2971-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation