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A novel approach to the uniformly distributed carbon nanotubes with intact structure in aluminum matrix composite

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Abstract

Achieving a uniform dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in metal matrix composites (MMCs) is a vital prerequisite for enhancing the mechanical properties of the samples. In this work, a novel strategy called little by little (LbL) adding was successfully adopted in order to achieve a uniform dispersion of CNTs. The Al composite powders reinforced with different amounts of CNTs (1, 2, 3, and 5 wt.%) were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as Raman spectroscopy, individual and uniform dispersion of CNTs without any serious structural damage was achieved in Al matrix. In this regard, the relative intensity ratio (ID/IG) of the raw CNTs was around 0.85 and that of LbL composite was ~ 0.9, indicating that the CNT structure experienced very little damage during the applied method. As a result of the uniform dispersion, there was no drastic reduction in mechanical property (microhardness) of the LbL-composites with increasing CNT content. Based on the tribological tests, it was found that the dominant wear mechanism of the LbL composite is abrasive wear accompanied by adhesion wear. Moreover, for the reference composites, produced by conventional wet milling process, the dominant wear mechanism was severe adhesive.

Novel strategy called little by little adding (LbL) was successfully adopted to achieve a uniform dispersion of CNTs in Al.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Farhad Saba, Seyed Abdolkarim Sajjadi, Simin Heydari & Mohsen Haddad-Sabzevar

  2. Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Jaafar Salehi

  3. Materials and Polymers Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

    Hamed Babayi

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  1. Farhad Saba
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  2. Seyed Abdolkarim Sajjadi
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  3. Simin Heydari
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  4. Mohsen Haddad-Sabzevar
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Correspondence to Farhad Saba or Seyed Abdolkarim Sajjadi.

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Saba, F., Sajjadi, S.A., Heydari, S. et al. A novel approach to the uniformly distributed carbon nanotubes with intact structure in aluminum matrix composite. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 2, 540–548 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-019-00115-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-019-00115-6

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