Microstructural features and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum–based metal matrix composites

Abstract

The composites of aluminum-carbon nanotubes, produced using catalytic chemical vapour deposition method, are prepared with initial composition of aluminum homogeneously mixed with 1, 2, 4 and 10wt% nanotubes and subsequently hot-pressed. TEMs and a STEM have been used to study the as prepared carbon nanotubes and their distribution in aluminum matrix after reinforcement. A set of preliminary observations delineated that the yield of as produced nanotubes in carbonaceous is very high with an average diameter of about 45 nm and with straight and spiral shapes. In composites, these tubes have been seen uniformly distributed in aluminum matrix without any significant dimensional alteration. An enormous increase in microhardness of aluminum – 10wt% carbon nanotubes composites in contrast to pure aluminum has been a remarkable study. Some of the important microscopic details, electrical measurements and mechanical properties in the nanotubes and their composites have been elucidated and discussed.