Investigation of New Method to Achieve Well Dispersed Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Al Matrix Composites
Nanostructured materials have attracted many
researchers due to their outstanding mechanical and physical
properties. For example, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or carbon
nanofibres (CNFs) are considered to be attractive reinforcement
materials for light weight and high strength metal matrix composites.
These composites are being projected for use in structural
applications for their high specific strength as well as functional
materials for their exciting thermal and electrical characteristics. The
critical issues of CNT-reinforced MMCs include processing
techniques, nanotube dispersion, interface, strengthening mechanisms
and mechanical properties. 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 order to tap into the advantages of the
properties of CNTs (or CNFs) in composites, the high dispersion of
CNTs (or CNFs) and strong interfacial bonding are the key issues
which are still challenging. Processing techniques used for synthesis
of the composites have been studied with an objective to achieve
homogeneous distribution of carbon nanotubes in the matrix.
Modified mechanical alloying (ball milling) techniques have emerged
as promising routes for the fabrication of carbon nanotube (CNT)
reinforced metal matrix composites. In order to obtain a
homogeneous product, good control of the milling process, in
particular control of the ball movement, is essential. The control of
the ball motion during the milling leads to a reduction in grinding
energy and a more homogeneous product. Also, the critical inner
diameter of the milling container at a particular rotational speed can
be calculated. In the present work, we use conventional and modified
mechanical alloying to generate a homogenous distribution of 2 wt.
% CNT within Al powders. 99% purity Aluminium powder (Acros,
200mesh) was used along with two different types of multiwall
carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) having different aspect ratios to
produce Al-CNT composites. The composite powders were processed
into bulk material by compaction, and sintering using a cylindrical
compaction and tube furnace. Field Emission Scanning electron
microscopy (FESEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Raman
spectroscopy and Vickers macro hardness tester were used to
evaluate CNT dispersion, powder morphology, CNT damage, phase
analysis, mechanical properties and crystal size determination.
Despite the success of ball milling in dispersing CNTs in Al powder,
it is often accompanied with considerable strain hardening of the Al
powder, which may have implications on the final properties of the
composite. The results show that particle size and morphology vary
with milling time. Also, by using the mixing process and sonication
before mechanical alloying and modified ball mill, dispersion of the
CNTs in Al matrix improves.
[1] S. R. Bakshi, D. Lahiri and A. Agarwal, "Carbon nanotube reinforced
metal matrix composites - a review", International Materials Reviews
Vol.55, No.1 (2010), 42-44.
[2] C.F. Deng, D.Z. Wang, X.X. Zhang, Y.X. Ma, "Damping characteristics
of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composite", Materials Letters
61 (2007), 3229.
[3] C.F. Deng, X.X. Zhang, D.Z. Wang, Q. Lin, A. Li, "Preparation and
characterization of carbon nanotubes/aluminum matrix", Materials
Letters 61 (2007), 1725.
[4] S. R. Bakshi, V. Singh, S. Seal, A. Agarwal, "Aluminum composite
reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes from plasma spraying of
spray dried powders", Surface & Coatings Technology 203 (2009),
1544.
[5] B. Lim et al, "The effects of interfacial bonding on mechanical
properties of single-walled carbon nanotube reinforced copper matrix
nanocomposites", Nanotechnology 17 (2006) 5759-5760.
[6] A. Esawi, K. Morsi , "Dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in
aluminum powder", Composites: Part A 38 (2007), 646-647.
[7] H. Kwon et al, "Combination of hot extrusion and spark plasma
sintering for producing carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix
composites, CARBON 47 (2009), 571-572.
[8] L. Wang , H. Choi , J.M. Myoung , W. Lee, "Mechanical alloying of
multi-walled carbon nanotubes and aluminium powders for the
preparation of carbon/metal composites", Carbon 47 (2009), 3430-3433.
[9] A.M.K. Esawi, K. Morsi, A. Sayed, A. Abdel Gawad, P. Borah,
"Fabrication and properties of dispersed carbon nanotube-aluminum
composites", Materials Science and Engineering A 508 (2009), 172.
[10] Srinivasa R. Bakshi, Virendra Singh, Sudipta Seal, Arvind Agarwal,
"Aluminum composite reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes
from plasma spraying of spray dried powders", Surface & Coatings
Technology 203 (2009), 1553.
[11] A.M.K. Esawi , K. Morsi , A. Sayed , M. Taher , S. Lank, "Effect of
carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the mechanical properties of CNTreinforced
aluminium composites", Composite Science and Technology,
Vol.7., Issue 16 (2010), 2237.
[12] K. Morsi , A. Esawi, "Effect of mechanical alloying time and carbon
nanotube (CNT) content on the evolution of aluminum (Al)-CNT
composite powders", Journal of Material Science 42 (2007), 4954-4955.
[13] Byengsoo Lim and et.al, "The effects of interfacial bonding on
mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotube reinforced
copper matrix nanocomposites", Nanotechnology 17 (2006), 5760.
[14] L. Lfi, M.O. Lai, S. Zhang, " Modeling of the mechanical-alloying
process", Journal of Materials Processing Technology 52 (1995), 541-
542.
[15] T. Ajaal, R.W. Smith, W.T. Yen, "The development and
characterization of a ball mill for mechanical alloying", Canadian
Metallurgical Quarterly, Vol 41, No 1 (2002), 8-9.
[16] Ahmed Sayed Salim Mohamed, "Fabrication and Properties of Carbon
Nanotube (CNT) Reinforced Aluminium Composites", Master of
Science in Engineering thesis, The American University in Cairo,
School of Sciences and Engineering, 2010.
[17] Rhodes MJ, Principles of powder technology, New York: John Wiley &
Sons (1995), 193-225
[18] T.Y. Kosolapova (Ed.), "Handbook of high temperature compounds:
properties, production, applications", Hemisphere, New York (1990),
228.
[1] S. R. Bakshi, D. Lahiri and A. Agarwal, "Carbon nanotube reinforced
metal matrix composites - a review", International Materials Reviews
Vol.55, No.1 (2010), 42-44.
[2] C.F. Deng, D.Z. Wang, X.X. Zhang, Y.X. Ma, "Damping characteristics
of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composite", Materials Letters
61 (2007), 3229.
[3] C.F. Deng, X.X. Zhang, D.Z. Wang, Q. Lin, A. Li, "Preparation and
characterization of carbon nanotubes/aluminum matrix", Materials
Letters 61 (2007), 1725.
[4] S. R. Bakshi, V. Singh, S. Seal, A. Agarwal, "Aluminum composite
reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes from plasma spraying of
spray dried powders", Surface & Coatings Technology 203 (2009),
1544.
[5] B. Lim et al, "The effects of interfacial bonding on mechanical
properties of single-walled carbon nanotube reinforced copper matrix
nanocomposites", Nanotechnology 17 (2006) 5759-5760.
[6] A. Esawi, K. Morsi , "Dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in
aluminum powder", Composites: Part A 38 (2007), 646-647.
[7] H. Kwon et al, "Combination of hot extrusion and spark plasma
sintering for producing carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix
composites, CARBON 47 (2009), 571-572.
[8] L. Wang , H. Choi , J.M. Myoung , W. Lee, "Mechanical alloying of
multi-walled carbon nanotubes and aluminium powders for the
preparation of carbon/metal composites", Carbon 47 (2009), 3430-3433.
[9] A.M.K. Esawi, K. Morsi, A. Sayed, A. Abdel Gawad, P. Borah,
"Fabrication and properties of dispersed carbon nanotube-aluminum
composites", Materials Science and Engineering A 508 (2009), 172.
[10] Srinivasa R. Bakshi, Virendra Singh, Sudipta Seal, Arvind Agarwal,
"Aluminum composite reinforced with multiwalled carbon nanotubes
from plasma spraying of spray dried powders", Surface & Coatings
Technology 203 (2009), 1553.
[11] A.M.K. Esawi , K. Morsi , A. Sayed , M. Taher , S. Lank, "Effect of
carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the mechanical properties of CNTreinforced
aluminium composites", Composite Science and Technology,
Vol.7., Issue 16 (2010), 2237.
[12] K. Morsi , A. Esawi, "Effect of mechanical alloying time and carbon
nanotube (CNT) content on the evolution of aluminum (Al)-CNT
composite powders", Journal of Material Science 42 (2007), 4954-4955.
[13] Byengsoo Lim and et.al, "The effects of interfacial bonding on
mechanical properties of single-walled carbon nanotube reinforced
copper matrix nanocomposites", Nanotechnology 17 (2006), 5760.
[14] L. Lfi, M.O. Lai, S. Zhang, " Modeling of the mechanical-alloying
process", Journal of Materials Processing Technology 52 (1995), 541-
542.
[15] T. Ajaal, R.W. Smith, W.T. Yen, "The development and
characterization of a ball mill for mechanical alloying", Canadian
Metallurgical Quarterly, Vol 41, No 1 (2002), 8-9.
[16] Ahmed Sayed Salim Mohamed, "Fabrication and Properties of Carbon
Nanotube (CNT) Reinforced Aluminium Composites", Master of
Science in Engineering thesis, The American University in Cairo,
School of Sciences and Engineering, 2010.
[17] Rhodes MJ, Principles of powder technology, New York: John Wiley &
Sons (1995), 193-225
[18] T.Y. Kosolapova (Ed.), "Handbook of high temperature compounds:
properties, production, applications", Hemisphere, New York (1990),
228.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:58875", author = "A.H.Javadi and Sh.Mirdamadi and M.A.Faghisani and S.Shakhesi", title = "Investigation of New Method to Achieve Well Dispersed Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Reinforced Al Matrix Composites", abstract = "Nanostructured materials have attracted many
researchers due to their outstanding mechanical and physical
properties. For example, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or carbon
nanofibres (CNFs) are considered to be attractive reinforcement
materials for light weight and high strength metal matrix composites.
These composites are being projected for use in structural
applications for their high specific strength as well as functional
materials for their exciting thermal and electrical characteristics. The
critical issues of CNT-reinforced MMCs include processing
techniques, nanotube dispersion, interface, strengthening mechanisms
and mechanical properties. 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 order to tap into the advantages of the
properties of CNTs (or CNFs) in composites, the high dispersion of
CNTs (or CNFs) and strong interfacial bonding are the key issues
which are still challenging. Processing techniques used for synthesis
of the composites have been studied with an objective to achieve
homogeneous distribution of carbon nanotubes in the matrix.
Modified mechanical alloying (ball milling) techniques have emerged
as promising routes for the fabrication of carbon nanotube (CNT)
reinforced metal matrix composites. In order to obtain a
homogeneous product, good control of the milling process, in
particular control of the ball movement, is essential. The control of
the ball motion during the milling leads to a reduction in grinding
energy and a more homogeneous product. Also, the critical inner
diameter of the milling container at a particular rotational speed can
be calculated. In the present work, we use conventional and modified
mechanical alloying to generate a homogenous distribution of 2 wt.
% CNT within Al powders. 99% purity Aluminium powder (Acros,
200mesh) was used along with two different types of multiwall
carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) having different aspect ratios to
produce Al-CNT composites. The composite powders were processed
into bulk material by compaction, and sintering using a cylindrical
compaction and tube furnace. Field Emission Scanning electron
microscopy (FESEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Raman
spectroscopy and Vickers macro hardness tester were used to
evaluate CNT dispersion, powder morphology, CNT damage, phase
analysis, mechanical properties and crystal size determination.
Despite the success of ball milling in dispersing CNTs in Al powder,
it is often accompanied with considerable strain hardening of the Al
powder, which may have implications on the final properties of the
composite. The results show that particle size and morphology vary
with milling time. Also, by using the mixing process and sonication
before mechanical alloying and modified ball mill, dispersion of the
CNTs in Al matrix improves.", keywords = "multiwall carbon nanotube, Aluminum matrixcomposite, dispersion, mechanical alloying, sintering", volume = "5", number = "11", pages = "1029-7", }