Influence the carbon nanotubes on the structure and mechanical properties of aluminum-based metal matrix composites

It is known that metal matrix composites reinforced with non-metallic inclusions are of great interest in various fields of technology owing to a good combination strength to weight ratio. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are expected to be ideal reinforcements for composite materials due to their high modulus and low density. In this paper metal matrix composites were obtained through hot pressing of powder mixtures Al-1% and 5% carbon nanotubes at different isothermal time. Hardness and density of materials went up with an increase in the isothermal holding time. However, the hardness of composites decreases with an increase the nanotubes content in the material