Microstructural features and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes reinforced aluminum-based metal matrix composites

The composites of aluminum-carbon nanotubes, produc ed using catalytic chemical vapour deposition metho d, are prepared with initial composition of aluminum homog eneously mixed with 1, 2, 4 and 10wt% nanotubes and subsequently hot-pressed. TEMs and a STEM have been used to stud y the as prepared carbon nanotubes and their distri bution in aluminum matrix after reinforcement. A set of preli minary observations delineated that the yield of as produced nanotubes in carbonaceous is very high with an average diamet er of about 45 nm and with straight and spiral shap es. In composites, these tubes have been seen uniformly distributed in aluminum matrix without any significant dimensiona l alteration. An enormous increase in microhardness of aluminum – 10 wt% carbon nanotubes composites in contrast to pure aluminum has been a remarkable study. Some of the important micr oscopic details, electrical measurements and mechan ical properties in the nanotubes and their composites have been elucid ated and discussed