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Microstructure and Properties of Spark Plasma Sintered Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites
Author(s) -
Yadav Vineet,
Harimkar Sandip P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
advanced engineering materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1527-2648
pISSN - 1438-1656
DOI - 10.1002/adem.201100132
Subject(s) - materials science , spark plasma sintering , composite material , carbon nanotube , microstructure , composite number , ball mill , nanocomposite , aluminium , indentation hardness , dispersion (optics) , physics , optics
Abstract In this paper, spark plasma sintering (SPS) of multi‐walled carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced aluminum matrix composites is reported. Ball milling of the Al‐CNT mixture with polyacrylic acid (PAA) dispersion agent followed by SPS resulted in uniform dispersion of CNTs in dense composite compacts. Significant improvement in microhardness, nanohardness, and compressive yield strength was observed with 2 wt% CNT reinforcement in aluminum matrix composites. The Al‐CNT composites further exhibited improved wear resistance and lower friction coefficient due to strengthening and self‐lubricating effects of CNTs.