Abstract
Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced A356 aluminum alloys cast nanocomposites containing lower CNT contents were successfully fabricated where the way of introducing diluted Al–8 wt% CNT master nanocomposite in A356 melts was used. The differential thermal analysis and x-ray diffraction results showed that aluminum carbide phases (Al4C3) were formed before Al melting. The formation of Al4C3 was then proved to improve the wettability of CNTs during Al melting. Effect of CNT addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of CNTs/A356 nanocomposites were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and universal tensile testing machine. The results showed that CNTs (<0.4 wt%) were well distributed in the CNTs/A356 nanocomposites. CNTs could greatly refine the microstructure of A356 alloy. The mechanical properties of CNTs/A356 nanocomposites were also enhanced by CNT addition. Fractography analysis revealed that CNTs were distributed uniformly throughout the fracture surface.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M.F. Yu, B.S. Files, S. Arepalli, and R.S. Ruoff: Tensile loading of ropes of single wall carbon nanotubes and their mechanical properties. Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 5552 (2000).
M.M.J. Treacy, T.W. Ebbesen, and J.M. Gibson: Exceptionally high Young’s modulus observed for individual carbon nanotubes. Nature 381, 678 (1996).
S.C. Tjong: Structural and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. Mater. Sci. Eng., R 53, 73 (2006).
R.D. Bortz, C. Merino, and L. Martin-Gullon: Carbon nanofibers enhance the fracture toughness and fatigue performance of a structural epoxy system. Compos. Sci. Technol. 71, 31 (2011).
G.D. Zhan, J.D. Kuntz, J. Wan, and A.K. Mukherhee: Single-wall carbon nanotubes as attractive toughening agents in alumina based nanocomposites. Nat. Mater. 2, 38 (2003).
X. Wang, N.P. Padture, and H. Tanaka: Contact-damage-resistant ceramic/single-wall carbon nanotubes and ceramic/graphite composites. Nat. Mater. 3, 539 (2004).
X.S. Zeng, G.H. Zhou, Q. Xu, Y.J. Xiong, C. Luo, and J.C. Wu: A new technique for dispersion of carbon nanotube in a metal melt. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 527, 5335 (2010).
T.K. Lau and D. Hui: Effectiveness of using carbon nanotubes as nanoreinforcements for advanced composite structures. Carbon 40, 1597 (2002).
D.K. Lim, T. Shibayanagi, and A.P. Gerlich: Synthesis of multi-walled CNT reinforced aluminum alloy composite via friction stir processing. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 507, 194–199 (2009).
Q. Liu, L.M. Ke, F.C. Liu, C.P. Huang, and L. Xing: Microstructure and mechanical property of multi-walled carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum matrix composites fabricated by friction stir processing. Mater. Des. 45, 343 (2013).
H.H. Kim, J.S.S. Babu, and C.G. Kang: Fabrication of A356 aluminum alloy matrix composite with CNTs/Al2O3 hybrid reinforcements. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 573, 92 (2013).
Y.F. Wu and G.Y. Kim: Carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composite fabricated by semi-solid powder processing. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 211, 1341 (2011).
Y.F. Wu, G.Y. Kim, and A.M. Russell: Effects of mechanical alloying on an Al6061–CNT composite fabricated by semi-solid powder processing. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 538, 164 (2012).
A. Esawi and K. Morsi: Dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in aluminum powder. Composites, Part A 38, 646 (2007).
Z.Y. Liu, S.J. Xu, B.L. Xiao, P. Xue, W.G. Wang, and Z.Y. Ma: Effect of ball-milling time on mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes. Composites, Part A 43, 2161–2168 (2012).
P. Dominique, G. Raynald, and A.L.D. Robin: Structural characterization of a mechanically milled carbon nanotube/aluminum mixture. Composites, Part A 40, 1482 (2009).
P.S. Kang, C.J. Jun, G.P. Jong, K.P. Hyoen, H.C. Yong, H.N. Dong, H.K. Dong, Y.J. Hye, B. Chandan, H.H. Chan, and H.L. Young: SiC formation on carbon nanotube surface for improving wettability with aluminum. Compos. Sci. Technol. 74, 6 (2013).
S.I. Oh, J.Y. Lim, Y.C. Kim, J. Yoon, G.H. Kim, J. Lee, Y.M. Sung, and J.H. Han: Fabrication of carbon nanofiber reinforced aluminum alloy nanocomposites by a liquid process. J. Alloys Compd. 542, 111 (2012).
K. Landry, S. Kalogeropoulou, and N. Eustathopoulos: Wettability of carbon by aluminum and aluminum alloys. Mater. Sci. Eng., A 254, 99 (1998).
X.X. Zhang, C.F. Deng, D.Z. Wang, L. Geng, and L. Geng: Synthesis and thermal stability of multiwall carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum metal matrix composites. Trans. Nonferrous Met. Soc. China 15, 240 (2005).
R.B. Srinivasa, K.K. Anup, S. Virendra, S. Sudipta, and A. Arvind: Interface in carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum silicon composites: Thermodynamic analysis and experimental verification. J. Alloys Compd. 481, 207 (2009).
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51364035), Ministry of Education Tied up with the Special Research Fund for the Doctoral Program for Higher School (20133601110001), Loading Program of Science and Technology of College of Jiangxi Province (KJLD14003)., Production and Teaching and Research Cooperation plan of Nanchang Non-party Experts and Doctor (2012-CYH-DW-XCL-002).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yan, H., Qiu, H. Fabrication of carbon nanotube reinforced A356 nanocomposites. Journal of Materials Research 31, 2277–2283 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2016.258
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2016.258