• Teotia, Satish
• Pasricha, Renu
• Mathur, R. B.
• Chahal, Rajiv
• Jangra, Mamta
• Singhal, S. K.

Abstract

<p>Al-matrix composites reinforced with amino-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (fCNTs) have been fabricated using the powder metallurgy process. Using this method fCNTs (1.5wt.%) were dispersed in Al powder by high energy ball milling. Al-fCNTs composites (1.5wt.%) were fabricated by the consolidation of powders at 550MPa followed by sintering at 620°C under a vacuum of 10 ^-2Torr for 2h. Functionalization of the nanotubes was carried out by ball milling multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the presence of ammonium bicarbonate. It was observed that the dispersion of fCNTs in Al-matrix was much higher than those of non-functionalized MWCNTs. Microhardness measurements showed that a microhardness value of about 400kg/mm ² could be obtained for Al-matrix composites loaded with 1.5wt.% fCNTs. Microstructure observations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirmed that the sintered composites had a good dispersion of fCNTs in Al matrix and they do not agglomerate with each other. Further, the HRTEM characterization of these composites revealed the formation of a thin transition layer of Al ₄C ₃ between fCNTs and Al matrix, which is believed to be responsible for load transfer from Al matrix to fCNTs. A thorough characterization of MWCNTs and fCNTs synthesized in the present work was carried out using XRD, SEM, TGA, HRTEM, FTIR, SIMS and Raman spectroscopy.</p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• dispersion
• Carbon
• scanning electron microscopy
• x-ray diffraction
• nanotube
• milling
• composite
• thermogravimetry
• ball milling
• ball milling
• functionalization
• Raman spectroscopy
• sintering
• selective ion monitoring