Molecular dynamics study of carbon nanotube reinforced titanium composites

Abstract

Because of their high corrosion resistance, Ti and its alloys are widely used for chemical and petrochemical applications. Carbon nanotube reinforced Ti composites can be used in space and defense applications because these composites are lightweight and at the same time exhibit exceptional mechanical properties. In this study, the mechanical properties of carbon nanotube-Ti composites have been predicted using molecular dynamics approach. The effect of variation in carbon nanotube volume fraction, temperature and strain on the elastic and the shear modulus of carbon nanotube-Ti composites, was studied. The elastic and shear moduli were all found to increase significantly because of the increasing carbon nanotube volume fraction. Even at temperatures approaching 1 °K, the carbon nanotube-Ti composites show high values of elastic and shear moduli. The elastic moduli tend to attain a constant value at high levels of strain.