Effect of Milling Time on Microstructure and Properties of AA6061/MWCNTS Composite Powders / Wpływ Czasu Mielenia Na Strukturę I Własności Proszk Ów Kompozytowyc H AA6061/MWCNTS

Abstract

The main purpose of this work is to determine the effect of milling time on microstructure as well as technological properties of aluminium matrix nanocomposites reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using powder metallurgy techniques, including mechanical alloying. The main problem of the study is the agglomeration and uneven distribution of carbon nanotubes in the matrix material and interface reactivity also. In order to reach uniform dispersion of carbon nanotubes in aluminium alloy matrix, 5÷20 h of mechanical milling in the planetary mill was used. It was found that the mechanical milling process has a strong influence on the characteristics of powders, by changing the globular morphology of as-received powder during mechanical milling process to flattened one, due to particle plastic deformation followed by cold welding and fracturing of deformed and hardened enough particles, which allows to obtain equiaxial particles again. The obtained composites are characterised by the structure of evenly distributed, disperse reinforcing particles in fine grain matrix of AA6061, facilitate the obtainment of higher values of mechanical properties, compared to the initial alloy. On the basis of micro-hardness, analysis has found that a small addition of carbon nanotubes increases nanocomposite hardness.