Mechanical and physical properties of carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum matrix composites

Carbon nanotubes/aluminum (CNT/Al) composites were prepared by magnetic stirring in combination with spark plasma sintering. Their microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Experiments were performed to investigate the inechanical properties, friction and wear character-istics, electric conductivity and thermal conductivity of CNT-free and CNT-added specimens. It is found that when the mass fraction of CNTs is 1%, CNTs can uniformly disperse within the Al matrix and interracial bonding at the CNT/Al interface is strong. In comparison with the unreintbrced Al specimen, the tensile strength and hardness of the CNT/Al composites increase by 29.4% and 15.8%, respectively. When the CNT/Al composites achieve the optimal mechanical enhancement and antifriction effect, their electrical conductivity only decreases by 8.0% compared with pure Al. The thermal conductivity of pure A1 could be enhanced with the incorporation of CNTs, but this enhancement effect is not obvious.