To fabricate large-scale multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced aluminum matrix composites, in this study, nanocomposites powder is successfully consolidated with simple processing methods. Ball milling is used to disperse multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the aluminum alloy 2024 matrix, and sequential cold press, hot press, and sintering techniques are selected for fabricating fully dense samples. As a result, an aluminum alloy 2024 composite with 4 vol.% multi-walled carbon nanotubes shows a yield strength of ∼700 MPa and an elongation to failure of 1.5% with Young’s modulus of 86.4 GPa. The large-scale composite can be used for automobile parts such as swash plates or piston heads.
ChengSZhaoYHZhuYT. Optimizing the strength and ductility of fine structured 2024 Al alloy by nano-precipitation. Acta Mater2007; 55: 5822–5832.
2.
KrasilnikovNASharafutdinivA. High strength and ductility of nanostructured Al-based alloy, prepared by high-pressure technique. Mater Sci Eng A2007; 463: 74–77.
3.
MalasJCVenugopalSSeshacharyuluT. Effect of microstructural complexity on the hot deformation behavior of aluminum alloy 2024. Mater Sci Eng A2004; 368: 41–47.
4.
ShanmugasundaramTHeilmaierMMurtyBS. On the Hall–Petch relationship in a nanostructured Al–Cu alloy. Mater Sci Eng A2010; 527: 7821–7825.
5.
HaoXNZhangHPZhengRX. Effect of mechanical alloying time and rotation speed on evolution of CNTs/Al-2024 composite powders. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China2014; 24: 2380–2386.
6.
ChoiHJMinBHShinJH. Strengthening in nanostructured 2024 aluminum alloy and its composites containing carbon nanotubes. Composites Part A2011; 42: 1438–1444.
7.
TokunagaTKanekoKHoritaZ. Production of aluminum-matrix carbon nanotube composite using high pressure torsion. Mater Sci Eng A2008; 490: 300–304.
8.
AbbasipourBNiroumandBMonirSM. Compocasting of A356-CNT composite. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China2010; 20: 1561−1566–1561−1566.
9.
ChenBLiSFImaiH. An approach for homogeneous carbon nanotube dispersion in Al matrix Composites. Mater Design2015; 72: 1–8.
10.
DengCFWangDZZhangXX. Processing and properties of carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum composites. Mater Sci Eng A2007; 444: 138–145.
11.
ZhongRCongHHouP. Fabrication of nano-Al based composites reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes. Carbon2003; 41: 848–851.
12.
LahaTChenYLahiriD. Tensile properties of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum nanocomposite fabricated by plasma spray forming. Composites Part A2009; 40: 589–594.
13.
JiangLLiZQFanGL. The use of flake powder metallurgy to produce carbon nanotube (CNT)/aluminum composites with a homogenous CNT distribution. Carbon2012; 50: 1993–1998.
14.
ChoiHJKwonGBLeeGY. Reinforcement with carbon nanotubes in aluminum matrix composites. Scripta Mater2008; 59: 360–363.
15.
GeorgeRKashyapKTRahulR. Strengthening in carbon nanotube/aluminium (CNT/Al) composites. Scripta Mater2005; 53: 1159–1163.
16.
ChaSIKimKTArshadSN. Extraordinary strengthening effect of carbon nanotubes in metal-matrix nanocomposites processed by molecular-level mixing. Adv Mater2005; 17: 1377–1381.
17.
TarantiliPAAndreopoulosGC. Real-time micro-raman measurements on stressed polyethylene fibers. 1. Strain rate effects and molecular stress redistribution. Macromolecules1998; 31: 6964–6976.
18.
LahiriDBakshiSRKeshriAK. Dual strengthening mechanisms induced by carbon nanotubes in roll bonded aluminum composites. Mater Sci Eng A2009; 523: 253–262.
19.
PoirierDGauvinRDrewRA. Structural characterization of a mechanically milled carbon nanotube/aluminum mixture. Composites Part A2009; 40: 1482–1489.
20.
ShinSEBaeDH. Strengthening behavior of chopped multi-walled carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composites. Mater Charact2013; 83: 170–177.
21.
ChoiHJShinJHMinBH. Reinforcing effects of carbon nanotubes in structural aluminum matrix nanocomposites. J Mater Res2009; 24: 2610–2616.
22.
KwonHLeeGGKimSG. Mechanical properties of nanodiamond and multi-walled carbon nanotubes dual-reinforced aluminum matrix composite materials. Mater Sci Eng A2015; 632: 72–77.
23.
ChenBLiSImaiH. Load transfer strengthening in carbon nanotubes reinforced metal matrix composites via in-situ tensile tests. Compos Sci Technol2015; 113: 1–8.
24.
CourtneyTH. Mechanical behavior of materials, 2nd ed. Singapore: McGraw-Hill Book Co, 2000.
