Commenced in January 2007
Frequency: Monthly
Edition: International
Paper Count: 32759
Induction Melting as a Fabrication Route for Aluminum-Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite

Authors: Muhammad Shahid, Muhammad Mansoor

Abstract:

Increasing demands of contemporary applications for high strength and lightweight materials prompted the development of metal-matrix composites (MMCs). After the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in 1991 (revealing an excellent set of mechanical properties) became one of the most promising strengthening materials for MMC applications. Additionally, the relatively low density of the nanotubes imparted high specific strengths, making them perfect strengthening material to reinforce MMCs. In the present study, aluminum-multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Al-MWCNTs) composite was prepared in an air induction furnace. The dispersion of the nanotubes in molten aluminum was assisted by inherent string action of induction heating at 790°C. During the fabrication process, multifunctional fluxes were used to avoid oxidation of the nanotubes and molten aluminum. Subsequently, the melt was cast in to a copper mold and cold rolled to 0.5 mm thickness. During metallographic examination using a scanning electron microscope, it was observed that the nanotubes were effectively dispersed in the matrix. The mechanical properties of the composite were significantly increased as compared to pure aluminum specimen i.e. the yield strength from 65 to 115 MPa, the tensile strength from 82 to 125 MPa and hardness from 27 to 30 HV for pure aluminum and Al-CNTs composite, respectively. To recognize the associated strengthening mechanisms in the nanocomposites, three foremost strengthening models i.e. shear lag model, Orowan looping and Hall-Petch have been critically analyzed; experimental data were found to be closely satisfying the shear lag model.

Keywords: Carbon nanotubes, induction melting, nanocomposite, strengthening mechanism.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1124427

Procedia APA BibTeX Chicago EndNote Harvard JSON MLA RIS XML ISO 690 PDF Downloads 1426

References:


[1] S. C. Tjong, Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Composites-Metal and Ceramic Matrices, KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co, 2009.
[2] T. H. Nam, G. Requena and P. Degischer, “Thermal expansion behavior of aluminum matrix composites with densely packed SiC particles,” Composites: Part A, vol. vol. 39, 2008, pp. 856–865.
[3] R. Casati and M. Vedani, “Metal Matrix Composites Reinforced by Nano-Particles—A Review,” Metals, vol. 4(1), 2014, pp. 65–83.
[4] B. G. Demczyk, M. Wang, J. Cumingd, M. Hetamn, W. Han, A. Zettl et al, “Direct mechanical measurements of the tensile strength and elastic modulus of multi-walled carbon nanotubes,” Mater Sci Eng A, vol. 334, 2002, pp. 173–178.
[5] J. Hone, M. C. Llaguno, N. M. Nemes, A. T. Johnson, J. E. Fischer, D. A. Walters et al, “Electrical and thermal transport properties of magnetically aligned single wall carbon nanotubes films,” Appl Phys Lett, vol. 77, 2000, pp. 666–668.
[6] R. E. Haimbaugh, Practical Induction Heat Treating, ASM, Handbook, 2nd ed. Materials Park, Ohio, USA, ASM International, 2001.
[7] H. Kwon, D. H. Park, J. F. Silvain, A. Kawasaki, K. Hansang, H. P. Dae et al, “Investigation of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composite materials,” Compos Sci Technol, vol. 70, 2010, pp. 546–550.
[8] R. George, K. T. Kashyap, R. Rahul and S. Yamdagni, “Strengthening in carbon nanotube/aluminium (CNT/Al) composites,” Scr Mater, vol. 53, 2005, pp. 1159–1163.
[9] D. Lahiri, S. R. R. Bakshi, K. K. Keshria, Y. Liu and A. Agarwal, “Dual strengthening mechanisms induced by carbon nanotubes in roll bonded aluminum composites,” Mater Sci Eng A, vol. 52, 2009, pp. 263–270.
[10] Z. Y. Liu, B. L. Xiao, W. G. Wang and Y. Y. Ma, “Singly dispersed carbon nanotube/aluminum composites fabricated by powder metallurgy combined with friction stir processing,” Carbon, vol. 50, 2012, pp. 1843–1852.
[11] D. H. Nam, S. I. Cha, B. K. Lim, H. M. Park, D. S. Han and S. H. Hong, “Synergistic strengthening by load transfer mechanism and grain refinement of CNT/Al–Cu composites,” Carbon, vol. 50, 2012, pp. 2417–2423.
[12] M. Mansoor, M. Shahid and A. Habib, “Optimization of Ethanol Flow Rate for Improved Catalytic Activity of Ni Particles to Synthesize MWCNTs Using a CVD Reactor,” Materials Research, vol. 17(3), 2014, pp. 739-746.
[13] M Mansoor and M Shahid, “Tribological Properties of MWCNTs Strengthened Aluminum Composite Fabricated by Induction Melting,” Advanced Materials Research, vol. 1101, 2015, pp. 62-65.
[14] M Mansoor and M Shahid, “A Facile One-Step Method for Coating Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes with Aluminum,” Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2015, pp. 74-78.
[15] C. Suryanarayana and M. G. Norton, X-ray Diffraction: A Practical Approach, Springer Science+Business Media, New York, 1998.
[16] B. L. Dutrow and C. M. Clark, X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), http://serc.carleton.edu/research_education/geochemsheets/techniques/XRD.html, as viewed on 8 July 2014.
[17] T. Clyne and P. Withers, An Introduction to Metal Matrix Composites, Cambridge University Press, 1993.
[18] H. Choi, G. Kwon, G. Lee and D. Bae, “Reinforcement with carbon nanotubes in aluminum matrix composites,” Scr Mater, vol. 59, 2008, pp. 360–363.
[19] A. Kelly and W. R. Tyson, “Tensile properties of fibre-reinforced metals: Copper/tungsten and copper/molybdenum,” Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, vol. 13(6), 1965, pp. 339-338.
[20] D. Hull and D. Bacon, Introduction to Dislocations, 5th ed. Oxford Butterworth-Heinemann, 2011.
[21] E. T. George and D. S. Mackenzie, Handbook of Aluminum; Physical Metallurgy and Processes, Vol. 1, 4th ed., CRC Press, New York 2003.
[22] N. Hansen, “Hall–Petch relation and boundary strengthening,” Scr Mater, vol. 51, 2004, pp. 801–806.